The Pattern of Rickets and Rickets-Like Bone Deformities in South-West Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective: Rickets is the most common childhood metabolic disorder of bones characterized by deficient mineralization of the growth plates. The prevalence of rickets is reducing particularly in developed countries where there is routine vitamin D supplementation in infants and children but it still constitutes a significant burden in developing countries. The index study aims to provide a 10-year review of clinical rickets and ricket-like bone deformities among children in South-West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study of a total of 66 children managed for rickets and rickets like bony deformities at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH) for 10 years. Results: Forty-eight (72.7%) were managed at EKSUTH while 18 (27.3%) were seen at LTH. Of the 66 children, there were 39 (59.1%) males and 27 (40.9%) females giving a M:F of 1.4:1. The mean age for the presentation of rickets and rickets-like bone deformities were 2.9 ± 1.68 years and 3.3 ± 2.60 years respectively. Rickets was found in 41 (62.1%) and rickets-like genu valgum in 14 (21.2%) patients which represented 56% of all rickets-like bone deformities. Conclusion: Rickets was commoner than rickets-like bone deformities in all age groups. Rickets was predominant among female children at LTH Osogbo.