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Nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets in Sudanese children
1Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Insights
Nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets is prevalent in Sudanese children, particularly infants. Early detection and intervention are crucial due to clinical and biochemical indicators like low serum phosphate and high alkaline phosphatase.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Nutritional rickets, a condition caused by vitamin D deficiency, affects children globally.
- Sudanese children present unique risk factors including socio-economic status and environmental conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the prevalence and characteristics of nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets in Sudanese children.
- To identify associated risk factors and clinical presentations in the studied population.
Main Methods:
- Clinical examination, radiological assessment, and biochemical investigations were employed.
- Therapeutic response was used to confirm diagnosis in 41 Sudanese children aged 3 months to 7 years.
Main Results:
- 41 children diagnosed with nutritional rickets; 42% were infants under 1 year.
- Biochemical findings included elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (75%), hypophosphatemia (68%), and hypocalcemia (54%).
- Associated conditions like underweight (47%) and anemia (79%) were common.
Conclusions:
- Nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets is a significant health concern in Sudanese children.
- Risk factors include poor socioeconomic background, inadequate maternal and child nutrition, prolonged breastfeeding, prematurity, and limited sun exposure.
- Rickets should be suspected in Sudanese children, especially preterms and those residing in apartments.
Abstract:
Nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets was established in 41 Sudanese children aged from 3 months to 7 years by clinical, radiological and therapeutic response supported by biochemical investigations. There were 25 boys and 16 girls, of whom 42% were infants of less than 1 year. Forty-seven per cent of rachitic children were underweight. Six infants had early rickets with no bony swellings but had other clinical features and radiological evidence of rickets. One of them, aged 3 months, presented with hypocalcaemic convulsions. Three children had icthyosis. Serum alkaline phosphatase was raised in 75%, hypophosphataemia occurred in 68% and hypocalcaemia in 54% of patients. Anaemia, mostly hypochromic, was detected in 79%. Possible causes were poor socio-economic background, inadequate dietary intake in both mothers and children, prolonged breastfeeding, prematurity, limited sun exposure and type of residence. Nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets should be looked for in Sudanese children, especially in preterms and in those living in flats.