Docs caution against calcium deficiency in children

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 9

Owing to lack of awareness among parents, a considerable number of children are being diagnosed with calcium and vitamin-D deficiency through ‘incidental diagnosis’ at the government hospital in the city.

A number of parents are bringing their children to the paediatrics unit of Women and Children Hospital with problems of pain in legs, short stature (short height), delayed coming out of teeth, whitish patches on face and overall delay in growth of children.

Apart from that there are children coming up with different problems and diagnosed for calcium and vitamin-D deficiency after conducting medical tests..

According to paediatricians at the hospital, apart from a general lack of awareness and the fact that a majority of them come from low socio-economic strata of society, parents have failed to ensure proper nutritional diet for their children.

And more specifically, it has been observed that there are a number of children with mild to severe calcium and vitamin-D deficiency.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Dr Ravikant Gupta said, “Out of 200 children (average OPD) brought to the paediatrics OPD for treatment, approximately 15-20 of them are getting diagnosed with calcium and vitamin-D deficiency on daily basis. The reason is quite simple that there is lack of awareness among parents. Moreover, a majority of them cannot afford to pay for the diet rich with calcium and vitamin-D. A majority of the affected children are in the age group of one-five years.”

Doctors in the city warned that such conditions must not be taken lightly and if ignored then their long term manifestations may result in rickets (twisted bow shaped body structure) among children.

It has been observed that parents from low socio-economic groups often make light of the condition, thereby making their children more vulnerable to rickets.

Apart from pain in body parts and delayed growth, early fatigue, weak muscles and fragile bones are some of the other manifestations of calcium and vitamin-D deficiency among children.

Dr Gupta added, “Sunlight is the direct source of vitamin-D, apart from that sea food, soya milk, egg, cheese, mushroom and cod liver oil are some of the rich sources. Similarly, milk and milk products, green leafy vegetables, soya products, nuts, fish, meat products are source of calcium. Talking of our body’s growth requirements, vitamin-D and calcium complement (interdependent) each other as the former helps in absorption/re-absorption of calcium and phosphate and then transports them to bones in our body, assisting them grow naturally.”

“For a healthy and fully grown baby, a pregnant woman must start intake of calcium and vitamin-D from second trimester itself. Our body (age group of one to 70 years) needs minimum 600 IUs (international units) of vitamin-D on a daily basis,” he said.