Rickets with secondary hyperparathyroidism in a severely subnormal child

Abstract

A case of a severely subnormal brain-damaged child with rickets and secondary hyperparathyroidism is recorded. Patient developed rickets on a normal diet which contained about 70 I.U. vitamin D daily. This healed completely, but only very slowly after the supplementation of an additional 320 I.U. of vitamin D and other vitamins t.d.s. Mental condition and investigations are noted. The role of vitamin D, functional state of the parath roid glands and case histories of rickets with secondary hyperparathyroidism are mentioned. It is postulated that difficulty in feeding and damage to certain regions of the brain may be directly responsible for the malfunction of the parathyroid glands and for the level and action of vitamin D. This increases the normal requirement of vitamin D and results in hyperparathyroidism. This is cured by only a moderate increase in vitamin D intake.