Rickets prophylaxis under current recommendations

AIM OF THE STUDY: We analysed the compliance of current recommendations concerning rickets prevention in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 65 infants hospitalised because of emergency problems. In each case, the medical history included prophylaxis of rickets and feeding pattern. In most cases (80%) we measured calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase in the serum. RESULTS: Vitamin D3 was overdosed in 70% of infants. 14% of children were diagnosed as rachitic in outpatient department before hospitalisation, but neither the clinical symptoms nor the laboratory test confirmed the diagnosis. This confirms the observation, that rickets is diagnosed too often, usually on the basis of isolated craniotabes in young infants. CONCLUSION: In the context of changing recommendations for prophylaxis of rickets, we recommend more careful prescribing of vitamin D3 preparations.