Contributions of sunshine deprivation and maternal vitamin D deficiency to rickets in the United Arab Emirates

The aims were to better characterize the clinical and biochemical features of rickets and to asses the contributions of sunshine deprivation to maternal vitamin D status and thus its relation to rickets in the child. The clinical and biochemical characteristics of 40 consecutive rachitic children and the sunshine exposure and vitamin L] status of their mothers at Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates' were studied. Rachitic children had significant skeletal deformities, growth and motor developmental delay and all had vitamin D deficiency. Clinical features' of children with "moderate/severe" vitamin D deficiency [serum 25-OHD 12.5-37.5 nmol/L] were similar to those with "very severe" vitamin D deficiency [

Contributions of sunshine deprivation and m aternal vitamin Ddeficien cy to rickets in the United Arab Emirates

The aims were to better characterize the clinical and biochemical features of rickets and to asses the contributions of sunshine deprivation to maternal vitamin D status and thus its relation to rickets in the child. The clinical and biochemical characteristics of 40 consecutive rachitic children and the sunshine exposure and vitamin D status of their mothers at Al-Ain United Arab Emirates were studied. Rachitic children had significant skeletal deformities, growth and motor developmental delay: and all had vitamin D deficiency. Clinical features of children with "moderate/severe" vitamin D deficiency [serum 25 OHD 12.5-37.5 nmol/L] were similar to those with "very severe" vitamin D deficiency [<12.5 nmol/L]. The median serum alkaline phosphatase concentration was higher in the latter Sixteen mothers [40%] had "very severe" vitamin D deficiency and 68° were not exposed to sunlight. Maternal body surface area exposed to sunlight correlated with serum 25-OHD concentration [r=0.48, P=0.002]. Rickets was mainly due to severe vitamin D deficiency rickets. Maternal vitamin D deficiency due to sun shine deprivation may contribute to persistence of rickets. Maternal sunshine exposure that ensures adequate vitamin D status should he emphasized in the strategies to eliminate rickets

Risk factors associated with low birth weight delivery in United Arab Emirates

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of LBW in the UAE and to identify risk factors associated with it. A matched case-control study was conducted between 15 January1992 -14 January1993. Questionnaires that included questions on 26factors were filled for every mother in the two groups. two hundred and ninety three infants born in Al Ain during the study period were of low birth weight [<2500 g]. The control group included the first mother who delivered a baby weighing >2500 g at birth immediately following the birth of the LBW infant. A univariate analysis was carried out on each factor and 14 factors namely, maternal age<20 years, mother's education, mother's occupation absence of household help first degree consanguinity nulliparity maternal BMI<19 previous preterm or LBW delivery premature rupture of membrane multiple deliveries interpregnancy interval<3 months antenatal booking weight at booking and short gestation were found to be significantly associated with LBW. These factors were then allowed to compete in a stepwise multiple logistic regression model Only gestational age previous preterm or LBW delivery maternal BMI<19 antenatal booking multiple births and absence of house work help were retained in the model These variables correctly predicted 90% of the controls to be of normal birth weight and 82% of the cases to be LBW This is the first comprehensive study on risk factors affecting the birth of an infant conducted in the UAE Since only 6 out of 26 different risk factors were found to be significantly associated with LBW reports on significant risk factors from univariate analyses may be spurious with many factors possibly being confounders

case of congenital Malaria in United Arab Emirates

This is report of a case of congenital malaria in a 20-day old neonate born to an immigrant Pakistani mother resident in UAE. The clinical presentation of fever irritability, frequent bowel motions and hepatosplenomegaly was suggestive of neonatal septicaemia. However laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Plasmodium vivax parasites in red blood cells and the infant responded to chloroquine therapy. This report highlights some of the clues to early diagnosis and treatment