Vitamin D deficiency in children presenting to the emergency department: a growing concern. Vitamin D deficiency in Birmingham's children: presentation to the emergency department

Abstract

Introduction: The increase in detected vitamin D deficiency appears to be multifactorial: an increasingly multicultural society, reduced exposure to sunlight due to concern about skin cancer and a more sedentary lifestyle and dietary changes within the population.

Methods: This was a retrospective survey of children found to be vitamin D deficient after attending the emergency department from March 2009 until March 2010. These data were then subdivided according to their age, ethnic origin, presenting complaint and biochemical associated features.

Results: We identified 89 patients with a low vitamin D level (total vitamin D levels less than 50 nmol/l), with 83% of those having very low vitamin D levels (less than 25 nmol/l). The most common presenting features were abdominal pain (19%), a seizure (17%) and limb pain (15%). The most common ethnic origins in our series were Pakistani (37%) followed by black African (11.2%).

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency should be considered in children with pigmented skin presenting with a range of symptoms. The detected vitamin D deficiency probably represents only a very small proportion of the vitamin D deficiency in children in Birmingham.

Keywords: abdomen- non trauma; musculo-skeletal, non traumatic problems; paediatric emergency med; planning.