title: Prevention and treatment of infant and childhood vitamin D deficiency in Australia and New Zealand: a consensus statement.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency has re-emerged as a significant paediatric health issue, with complications including hypocalcaemic seizures, rickets, limb pain and fracture. A major risk factor for infants is maternal vitamin D deficiency. For older infants and children, risk factors include dark skin colour, cultural practices, prolonged breastfeeding, restricted sun exposure and certain medical conditions. To prevent vitamin D deficiency in infants, pregnant women, especially those who are dark-skinned or veiled, should be screened and treated for vitamin D deficiency, and breastfed infants of dark-skinned or veiled women should be supplemented with vitamin D for the first 12 months of life. Regular sunlight exposure can prevent vitamin D deficiency, but the safe exposure time for children is unknown. To prevent vitamin D deficiency, at-risk children should receive 400 IU vitamin D daily; if compliance is poor, an annual dose of 150,000 IU may be considered. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency involves giving ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol for 3 months (1000 IU/day if < 1 month of age; 3000 IU/day if 1-12 months of age; 5000 IU/day if > 12 months of age). High-dose bolus therapy (300,000-500,000 IU) should be considered for children over 12 months of age if compliance or absorption issues are suspected.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia. craigm2@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munns
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zacharin
authors.forename: Christine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Rodda
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Batch
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: Noel E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Cranswick
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Wayne S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cutfield
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Sonia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pasco
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgner
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Cowell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009520:New Zealand; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D