• Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Ghulam Murtaza, M Ashraf Memon, Sultan Ahmed Khaskheli, Khalid Iqbal, and Masood Hussain Rao.
• Department of Paediatrics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. gaffar.billoo@aku.edu
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2009 Jul 1; 19 (7): 428-31.

ObjectiveTo assess the safety and acceptability of a single dose of vitamin-D versus the efficacy of injectable Vitamin-D versus oral vitamin-D.Study DesignCase control.Place And Duration Of StudyIt was carried out at the Department of Paediatrics, Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, from August 2003 to April 2004.MethodologyChildren of the age of 6 months to 3 years with clinical, biochemical and radiological evidence of vitamin- D deficiency rickets were included. The history, clinical examination, complete blood picture, serum calcium. Phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and X-ray of wrist joint were done. The children were divided into two groups A and B. Group A was given oral vitamin-D and group B was given intramuscular injection of vitamin-D on the first day and then they were followed for two more visits at 30 and 90 days with clinical, biochemical and radiological examinations to assess the outcome.ResultsThere were 50 confirmed cases of rickets in each group. The mean age was 10.9+5.1 months and 14.7+8.1 months in group A and B respectively. In these children, clinical features were weakness, difficulty in walking, frontal bossing, ribcage deformity and widening of wrist were seen. After one dose of vitamin-D (cholecalciferol), there was appreciable gain of weight and height and raised levels of alkaline phosphatase became normal during follow-up. Radiological florid rickets and non-florid rickets in both groups healed clinically during follow-up period. Oral and injectable forms of vitamin-D (cholecalciferol) were effective but injectable form was shown to be statistically significant. There were no undesirable side effects and both forms of treatment were well-tolerated.

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