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[An uncommon cause of hypocalcemic convulsion: congenital rickets. Case report]

Duran Karabel1, Musemma Karabel, Ayse Esra Yilmaz

  • 1Departamento de Pediatría, Maternity and Children's Hospital, Siirt, Turquía.

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|December 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Maternal vitamin D deficiency can cause congenital rickets, a rare condition leading to seizures in infants. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for newborns with this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency and rickets are significant global health issues, particularly in developing nations.
  • Congenital rickets, a rare manifestation, is strongly linked to maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy.

Observation:

  • A two-month-old infant presented with seizures and was hospitalized for a pulmonary infection.
  • The infant's clinical presentation raised suspicion for underlying metabolic or nutritional disorders.

Findings:

  • The infant was diagnosed with congenital rickets, directly attributed to maternal vitamin D deficiency.
  • This case highlights the critical role of maternal nutrition in fetal and infant skeletal development.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of screening pregnant women for vitamin D deficiency to prevent congenital rickets.
  • Emphasizes the need for increased awareness and management of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric populations.
  • Underscores the potential for severe neurological complications, such as seizures, in infants with undiagnosed rickets.

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