Children with nutritional rickets referred to hospitals in Copenhagen during a 10-year period

Aim: To describe the prevalence of nutritional rickets among children admitted to three large paediatric departments in the Copenhagen area during a 10 y period. Methods: Retrospective analysis of cases identified from the diagnosis registers fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for nutritional rickets. Results: Forty cases were identified, distributed in two distinct age groups: 0.5-4 y (n = 31) and 9-15 y (n = 9). All cases were immigrants, of whom 95% were born in Denmark. The main symptoms in the younger age group were bowed legs and clumsy walk, and in the peri-pubertal group were painful joints. Two children had generalized convulsions. None of the cases had received vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion: Nutritional rickets is still present among immigrants in Denmark, and it is likely that the prevalence of mild cases is high. Prevention through vitamin D supplementation is important, but requires a dedicated health education effort.