Characteristics of rickets in a referral hospital in Khartoum-Sudan

Abstract

Rickets is a common disease among children with severe malnutrition; it may be associated with liver and renal failure as precipitating factors.Methods and materials: this study was done at JafarIbn Auf pediatric hospital, Sudan. Fifty-four children with rickets were included. Clinical, radiological, laboratory, as well as socioeconomic status, were assessed.; Results: The mean age of the children with rickets was (22.3 ± 15.1 months), 38(70.4%) of the children had low sunlight exposure, 45(83.3%) from low-income families, 50(92.2%) were under weight, 25.9% were not breastfed, 41(75.9%) had rachitic rosary and 38(70.4%) had hand swelling. Out of all study population; 51(94.4%) of them showed hypocalcemia associated with hypophosphatemia and 50(92.6%) showed increased alkaline phosphatase levels. As risk factors; 8 (14.8%) of the study population had liver failure, while 6 (11.1%) had renal failure; Conclusion: Rickets in JafarIbn Auf pediatric hospital is associated with poverty and malnutrition as well as low sunlight exposure. Liver failure and renal failure may be important precipitating factors for rickets in Sudanese children.