Vitamin D deficiency in infants and young children born to migrant parents

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the current modes of presentation for the development of nutritional vitamin D deficiency in Melbourne children. Methodology A retrospective descriptive review was undertaken of the case records of children less than 5 years of age discharged from three Melbourne hospitals with a diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency or hypocalcaemia from January 1992 to January 1994. Results The study identified 13 infants and young children whose hospital admission was related to nutritional vitamin D deficiency. Significant morbidity and a broad spectrum of biochemical and clinical features were noted at presentation. All children had migrant parents and were either exclusively or pre..