Nineteen Cases of Symptomatic Neonatal Hypocalcemia Secondary to Vitamin D Deficiency: A 2-Year Study

Vitamin D deficiency can develop very early in infancy, and be characterized by severe hypocalcemic symptoms. This study was done to determine the relation between symptomatic hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency in newborn infants and their mothers in the state of Qatar. This is a retrospective study for all newborns presented to the Pediatric Emergency Centers in Qatar with symptomatic hypocalcemia from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007. Nineteen newborn infants during the study period presented with symptomatic hypocalcemia. Vitamin D deficiency with or without relative hypoparathyroidism was the attributed cause. Vitamin D deficiency in newborn infants secondary to maternal vitamin D deficiency leading to hypocalcemic symptoms is not uncommon in the state of Qatar. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation in pregnant and lactating mothers in the state of Qatar should be considered after proper screening.