Recent trends and clinical features of childhood vitamin D deficiency presenting to a children's hospital in Glasgow
- S F Ahmed1,
- C Franey1,
- H McDevitt1,
- L Somerville2,
- S Butler3,
- P Galloway4,5,
- L Reynolds6,
- M G Shaikh1,
- A M Wallace5
- 1Bone & Endocrinology Research Group, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK
- 2Department of Community Paediatrics, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK
- 3Department of Paediatric Radiology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK
- 4Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK
- 5Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
- 6Department of Public Health, Glasgow, UK
- Correspondence to Professor S F Ahmed, Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow G62 8NT, UK; s.f.ahmed{at}clinmed.gla.ac.uk
- Accepted 7 April 2010
- Published Online First 28 June 2010
Abstract
Background The incidence of vitamin D deficiency is unclear in the context of continuing demographic changes and the introduction of new public health measures.
Methods All cases in which vitamin D deficiency was suspected as the primary cause of the clinical presentation were studied.
Results Between 2002 and 2008, 160 cases of symptomatic vitamin D deficiency were identified with twice as many cases in 2008 (n, 42) as in the previous years. The median age of the cohort was 24 months (range 2 weeks-14 years).Three cases were recorded in children of European background, whereas the rest were in children of South Asian, Middle Eastern or sub-Saharan ethnic background. Presenting features included bowed legs in 64 (40%) and a fit in 19 (12%). In one infant, concerns were raised following a presentation with cardiac failure and hypocalcaemia.
Summary Symptomatic vitamin D deficiency remains prevalent in the West of Scotland. There is a need for effective public health education, action and surveillance.
Footnotes
-
Competing interests None.
-
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
