Rickets still a major health issue says Canadian Paediatric Society
18 Jul 2004
Vitamin D deficiency rickets still exists in Canada — this despite ready access to vitamin D and a clear recommendation by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) that all breast-fed infants receive a daily supplement of oral vitamin D.
“Vitamin D deficiency rickets is a significant public health problem among infants living in Canada. We have had reports of several cases during the two-year study,” said Dr. Leanne Ward, the principal investigator of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) study Vitamin D deficiency rickets. “This is a disease which is present, despite recommendations on vitamin D supplementation in the first year of life.”
The CPSP study has confirmed more than 79 cases of nutritional rickets in Canada, found predominantly among infants and toddlers. The two-year study asked 2300 paediatricians across Canada to report all cases of nutritional rickets. The results of the surveillance study will be released today during a news conference being held in Montreal at the CPS Annual Conference.
The investigators found that, while intermediate and dark-skinned children who are breast-fed without vitamin D supplementation are at increased risk for nutritional rickets, fair-skinned children are also affected. At diagnosis, children can exhibit symptoms such as convulsions, limb deformity, fractures and delayed development.
“It is alarming to see so many cases of a disease that is completely preventable through such a simple measure,” adds Dr. Ward. “We know that the message isn’t getting out and has somehow been lost. It is important that we renew our effort to raise awareness among health professionals and parents.” The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national professional association, representing more than 2,000 paediatricians, that advocates for the health needs of children and youth. For information about the CPS recommendations on vitamin D or the CPSP study visit http://www.cps.ca.
Additional media materials:
CPSP study fact sheet
18 Jul 2004
Vitamin D deficiency rickets still exists in Canada — this despite ready access to vitamin D and a clear recommendation by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) that all breast-fed infants receive a daily supplement of oral vitamin D.
“Vitamin D deficiency rickets is a significant public health problem among infants living in Canada. We have had reports of several cases during the two-year study,” said Dr. Leanne Ward, the principal investigator of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) study Vitamin D deficiency rickets. “This is a disease which is present, despite recommendations on vitamin D supplementation in the first year of life.”
The CPSP study has confirmed more than 79 cases of nutritional rickets in Canada, found predominantly among infants and toddlers. The two-year study asked 2300 paediatricians across Canada to report all cases of nutritional rickets. The results of the surveillance study will be released today during a news conference being held in Montreal at the CPS Annual Conference.
The investigators found that, while intermediate and dark-skinned children who are breast-fed without vitamin D supplementation are at increased risk for nutritional rickets, fair-skinned children are also affected. At diagnosis, children can exhibit symptoms such as convulsions, limb deformity, fractures and delayed development.
“It is alarming to see so many cases of a disease that is completely preventable through such a simple measure,” adds Dr. Ward. “We know that the message isn’t getting out and has somehow been lost. It is important that we renew our effort to raise awareness among health professionals and parents.” The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national professional association, representing more than 2,000 paediatricians, that advocates for the health needs of children and youth. For information about the CPS recommendations on vitamin D or the CPSP study visit http://www.cps.ca.
Additional media materials:
CPSP study fact sheet
