Prevalence of rickets at the age of 12 months. a study of appropriately developed for gestational age but premature infants
De v Heese, H.; Westcott, D.; Ryder, C.; Cremin, B.J.; Jakubiec, L.; Pettifor, J.M.
South African Medical Journal 66(16): 604-608
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 6541811 Document Number: 224711
A prospective study to determine the prevalence rates of rickets, as determined by clinical, biochemical and radiological examinations performed at the age of 12 months in preterm infants of low birth weight and full-term control infants of mothers in lower socio-economic classes, was carried out. Clinical rickets was suspected in 5 cases. Biochemical and/or radiological evidence of rickets was not evident in any of the infants studied, although 4 infants showed radiological evidence of osteopenia. Serum alkaline phosphatase and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels showed significant seasonal variations. Serum zinc and copper levels were within normal ranges for age. The true prevalence rate of rickets during infancy among the prematurely born or full-term infants in Cape Town is not known. The findings of our study show that as long as the mother utilizes the available community health services her infant should not develop nutritional rickets by the age of 12 months.