Incidence of Hypocalcemic Seizures Due to Vitamin D Deficiency in Children in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Context: Anecdotal reports suggest that increasing numbers of children in the UK are presenting with clinical manifestations of vitamin D deficiency (VDD). However, the epidemiology of symptomatic VDD is largely undetermined; existing studies are limited to local case series, and national incidence estimates of disease burden are lacking. Objective: To estimate the incidence of hypocalcaemic seizures secondary to VDD in children in the UK and Ireland, and describe the demographic and clinical features of cases. Design and Setting: Prospective, population-based active surveillance study using the established British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) methodology. Population: Children aged 0–15 years, resident in the UK and Ireland, who developed a hypocalcaemic seizure due to VDD between September 2011 and September 2013. Main Outcome Measure: Overall incidence of hypocalcaemic seizures due to VDD in children age 0–15, and incidence stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity. Results: Ninety one confirmed or p...