Recent trends and clinical features of childhood vitamin D deficiency presenting to a children's hospital in Glasgow.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of vitamin D deficiency is unclear in the context of continuing demographic changes and the introduction of new public health measures.


METHODS
All cases in which vitamin D deficiency was suspected as the primary cause of the clinical presentation were studied.


RESULTS
Between 2002 and 2008, 160 cases of symptomatic vitamin D deficiency were identified with twice as many cases in 2008 (n, 42) as in the previous years. The median age of the cohort was 24 months (range 2 weeks-14 years).Three cases were recorded in children of European background, whereas the rest were in children of South Asian, Middle Eastern or sub-Saharan ethnic background. Presenting features included bowed legs in 64 (40%) and a fit in 19 (12%). In one infant, concerns were raised following a presentation with cardiac failure and hypocalcaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic vitamin D deficiency remains prevalent in the West of Scotland. There is a need for effective public health education, action and surveillance.
Ahmed
S F
SF
Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK. s.f.ahmed@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Franey
C
C
McDevitt
H
H
Somerville
L
L
Butler
S
S
Galloway
P
P
Reynolds
L
L
Shaikh
M G
MG
Wallace
A M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012279:Rickets / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*