Nutritional Rickets: Correlation between clinical, biochemical and radiological profile

Objective: to determine the correlation between clinical manifestations, biochemical and radiological profile in children with nutritional rickets. methodology: this is a cross-sectional study conducted at paediatric ward of a private sector health facility, kutyana memon hospital kharadar karachi. a total of hundred patients aged 2 to 36 months with clinical suspicion of nutritional rickets were included in the study. a detailed history and examination was done and relevant investigations including serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and x-ray wrist joints were done to confirm the diagnosis. data was analyzed and presented as percentages and frequencies. results: there were 63% males and 37% females. majority of children were between 6 to 18 months of age, (49%) followed by 2-6 months (44%) and 18 to 36 months (07%). rachitic rosary was the most frequent clinical feature observed in 87% followed by widening of wrist joints in 76% cases. serum calcium was low in 90% cases and serum alkaline phosphatase was increased in all patients. serum phosphate was either low or normal in 44% cases each. radiological findings were suggestive of rickets in 54% cases. conclusion: clinical and biochemical markers are reliable indicators for diagnosis of nutritional rickets. which is more frequent between 2 to 18 months of age.