Rickets: a cause of delayed walking in toddlers.
OBJECTIVE
Children with complaints of not able to walk were investigated for rickets by appropriate history, clinical examination, serum biochemistry and radiology.


METHODS
Children more than 1 yr were included. Each child was evaluated keeping in mind the possible causes of delayed walking. Also each child was thoroughly examined and diagnosed by combination of clinical, radiological, biochemical findings and response to treatment.


RESULTS
Out of forty-two non-walkers during the study period, 25 patients turned out to be affected by nutritional rickets (60%). On follow-up at 3 weeks of treatment, all 25 patients (100%) showed radiological and biochemical response. Five patients were lost to follow-up after 3 weeks of treatment. Seventeen patients started walking within 3 months of treatment. Two patients did not start walking even after complete biochemical and radiological resolution. Radiological resolution, with limiting factor being the healing of lower end of ulna, averaged 5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The study reveals that majority of ricketic non-walkers start walking within 2 to 5 months of appropriate treatment.
Agarwal
Anil
A
Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, CNBC, Delhi, India. rachna_anila@yahoo.co.in
Gulati
Divesh
D
Rath
Suman
S
Walia
Mandeep
M
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D012279:Rickets / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium