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Vitamin D deficiency in mothers of infants with rickets
Author(s) -
Nozza Josephine M,
Rodda Christine P
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143559.x
Subject(s) - rickets , medicine , vitamin d deficiency , hypocalcaemia , vitamin d and neurology , osteomalacia , pediatrics , incidence (geometry) , vitamin , calcium , physics , optics
Objective To identify infants treated for vitamin D deficiency rickets, and to determine the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in their mothers and their mothers' country of origin. Design A retrospective audit of the medical records of children diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency rickets. Inpatients were identified by discharge diagnoses of vitamin D deficiency or hypocalcaemia and outpatients by pharmacy dispensing of cholecalciferol. Setting The Women's and Children's Health Care Network and the Southern Health Care Network (Melbourne, VIC) from June 1994 to February 1999. Patients 55 children with vitamin D deficiency rickets. Results Fifty‐four of the 55 children were born to mothers with ethnocultural risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D status had been assessed in 31 of the 55 mothers (56%): 25 (81%) had 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 concentrations ≤ 25 nmol/L, consistent with osteomalacia. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency continues to occur in children of migrant families. When infants are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D levels in their mothers and siblings should also be assessed.