Rickets of prematurity- a case report.
OBJECTIVE
This case report seeks to create awareness of the aetiology of rickets of prematurity among very low birth weight infants in Nigeria


RESULTS
This is a case report of an 800 gramme premature male neonate delivered by caesarean section at 28 weeks gestation following severe maternal pre-eclampsia. The infant was hospitalised for sixty days and fed exclusively on his mother's breast milk for seven months. He had two episodes of sepsis and was transfused twice while on admission. He was on Abidec drops, which contained 400 IU/0.6 ml of vitamin D from the age of two weeks. He defaulted from the follow up clinic at postnatal age of 16 weeks only to reappear at 30 weeks postnatal age with overt clinical, biochemical and radiologic signs of rickets. He responded well to calcium and phosphate supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
This case highlights the role of mineral deficiency in the aetiology of rickets of prematurity in very low birth weight infants fed with their mothers' breast milk.
Adejuyigbe
E A
EA
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Famurewa
O C
OC
Adegboyega
T
T
D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D009549:Nigeria; D010710:Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D012279:Rickets / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium