ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the frequency of Vitamin D deficiency in children presenting with rickets
Methods: descriptive case series was conducted at the department of Paediatrics Unit III, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi in children 6 months to 5 years of age presenting with clinical rickets. Children taking vitamin D were excluded. The subjects fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled after informed consent. Blood samples were taken from each patient and were sent to the laboratory for vitamin D [25[OH] D] level. Serum level of vitamin D less than 20ng/ml was labeled as vitamin D [25[OH] D] deficiency rickets. The data was collected on pre-designed performa by the principal researcher. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 10
Results: the age of enrolled participants was 1.5 +/- 1 year. Of 159 enrolled participants, 91 [57.2%] were male and 68 [42.8%] were female. Frequency of sun exposure of 2-3 days a week was 97 [61.01%] and using vitamin D fortified foods were 34 [21.38%]. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency was 120 [75.47%] cases
Conclusion: in this study the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in children 6 months to five years with rickets was 75%