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STUDY OF VITAMIN D LEVELS IN CHILDREN WITH LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION AT CRGH AND ASSOCIATED HOSPITALS OF R.D. GARDI MEDICAL COLLEGE

Background: Lower Respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) remain among the most important causes of morbidity and
mortality among children. Several studies have associated vitamin D deciency with an increased risk of LRTIs. The
main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deciency in children from 6 months to 5 years of age with LRTI, and to
evaluate the correlation between vitamin D levels and the incidence and severity of LRTI. A hospital based Material and Methods:
observational study was carried out in the patients admitted for LRTI in pediatric ward of CR Gardi hospital of RDGMC from October 2018 to
July 2020. A total of 70 children were included between the age group 6 months to 5 years were selected for the study. Data were entered in MS
excel and analyzed by software Stata 10. Vitamin D levels were divided Results: into three categories, decient, insufcient, and sufcient.
Average Vitamin D levels were 25.98ng/dl. Out of 70 children with lower respiratory tract infections 28.57% (n=20) children, had decient levels
(<20ng/ml) of vitamin D, 38.57% (n=27) had insufcient levels (21-29ng/ml), while 32.86% (n=23) patients had sufcient (>30ng/ml) vitamin
D levels. Vitamin D levels are found to be decient in 39% cases of LRTI, However Conclusion: 26% children had Vitamin D levels in a decient
range. Since 65% of children with LRTI had either decient or insufcient levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D should be estimated in all children with
LRTI. In places where Vitamin D levels cannot be estimated Vitamin D supplementation should be given. There is a need of more studies to be
done on a larger sample size to reach to a certain conclusion.