Vitamin-D-deficiency rickets in Kuwait: the prevalence of a preventable disease

Ann Trop Paediatr. 1989 Sep;9(3):134-9. doi: 10.1080/02724936.1989.11748616.

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty children with clinical, biochemical and radiological evidence of vitamin-D-deficiency rickets were studied over a period of 5 years. Their ages ranged from 1 month to 2 years. Breastfed infants formed 63% of total cases. Intramuscular therapy with vitamin D in a dose of 600,000 IU, deep intramuscular, proved to be safe and effective. In contrast, oral vitamin D did not provide such satisfactory results, presumably owing to poor patient/parental compliance. This report reveals that vitamin-D-deficieny rickets is common in Kuwait in spite of abundant sunlight all through the year because children are wrapped up and kept indoors. Insufficient intake of vitamin D is another important factor in the pathogenesis of vitamin-D-deficiency rickets in Kuwait.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kuwait
  • Rickets / epidemiology*
  • Rickets / etiology
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications