Scottish Paediatric Surveillance Unit

 

 

 

 

 

PROJECT 5

Symptomatic Vitamin D Deficiency In Childhood

Description

To determine the incidence of clinically symptomatic nutritional Vitamin D deficiency in children in Scotland and the range of presentations.

Case Definition

What is the incidence of clinically symptomatic nutritional Vitamin D deficiency in Scotland?

What is the range of clinical presentations of symptoms listed below?

Lead Clinician

Professor Faisal Ahmed

Dr Helen McDevitt

Disease name

Childhood nutritional rickets

Inclusion Criteria

Children (0-16 years) presenting to out-patients, inpatients, A/E and short-stay wards in hospitals in Scotland with:

  1. Clinical features of Vitamin D deficiency.
    • rickets
    • fractures related to hypocalcaemia
    • Other or symptoms related to hypocalcaemia(e.g. seizures, tetany, paraesthesiae, abnormal motor function, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, apnoea, stridor)
  2. Biochemical Vitamin D deficiency or
  3. Radiological changes consistent with rickets.

Reporting Instructions

Any case seen within the last month that meets the case definition

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Osteopathy of prematurity (within previous 6 months)
  2. Rickets due to genetic or drug-induced defects of phosphate or Vit D metabolism
  3. Coexistence of following conditions:-
  • Chronic malabsorption
  • Liver disease
  • Chronic renal insufficiency
  • Thalassaemia