Vitamin-D-deficiency rickets in Kuwait: the prevalence of a preventable disease.
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.
Lubani
M M
MM
Department of Pediatrics, Farwaniya Hospital, Kuwait.
al-Shab
T S
TS
al-Saleh
Q A
QA
Sharda
D C
DC
Quattawi
S A
SA
Ahmed
S A
SA
Moussa
M A
MA
Reavey
P C
PC
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait; D012279:Rickets / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications