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Nutritional vitamin D deficiency: a case report

Rachel L Stevens1, Corey Lyon

  • 1Research Family Medicine Residency, Research Medical Center 6650 Troost Ave, Kansas City, 64131 USA. rachel.stevens@hcamidwest.com

Cases Journal
|October 16, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Nutritional vitamin D deficiency, also known as rickets, can cause failure to thrive in infants. Early diagnosis and vitamin D supplementation lead to adequate catch-up growth in affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Failure to thrive (FTT) is a common concern in pediatric care, characterized by inadequate weight gain.
  • Nutritional deficiencies can significantly impact infant growth and development.

Observation:

  • A 6-month-old African American male infant presented with failure to thrive, despite adequate breastfeeding intake.
  • The infant exhibited growth below expected percentiles, meeting diagnostic criteria for failure to thrive.

Findings:

  • Diagnostic workup confirmed nutritional vitamin D deficiency as the cause of the infant's failure to thrive.
  • The condition was identified as rickets, characterized by impaired bone mineralization.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis and prompt supplementation of vitamin D are crucial for reversing the effects of rickets.
  • Effective treatment resulted in adequate catch-up growth, underscoring the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies in pediatric care.

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