Children with LRTI were found to have significantly lower mean vitamin D levels as compared to controls There was likewise a correlation between vitamin D levels and incidence and severity of LRTI .
Studies related to vitamin D deficiency and lower respiratory tract infections ( LRTI ) in children have inconsistent findings .
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with LRTI , and to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D levels and the incidence and severity of LRTI .
Nutritional rickets and vitamin D deficiency--association with the outcomes of childhood very severe pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND The association of rickets and vitamin D deficiency ( VDD ) with pneumonia is well documented , but not with its outcomes . OBJECTIVES To investigate whether rickets and VDD predict the outcomes in very severe pneumonia ( VSP ) . DESIGN A prospect i ve cohort study conducted at Al-Sabeen hospital in Sana'a , Yemen . A total of 152 children aged 2 - 59 months with WHO-defined VSP were enrolled , managed , and followed for up to 30 days . Treatment outcome was either successful or failure ( antibiotic modification for clinical worsening , death , relapse after 10-day antibiotics , or development of complications ) . Serum vitamin D ( 25OHD )  was measured in 79 cases . A concentration of < or=30 nmol/L defines VDD . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Association of rickets with treatment outcome ; and VDD with the circulating neutrophils ( PMNs ) , and oxygen saturation% ( SpO(2)% ) , respectively . RESULTS Treatment failure occurred in 24 ( 15.8 % ) , all aged 2 - 12 months , and 21 ( 87.5 % ) were rachitic . Of the 79 subset , 29 had VDD of which 23 ( 79.3 % ) had rickets . Treatment failure was significantly higher in the rachitic compared to non-rachitic [ 20.6 % ( 21/102 ) vs. 6 % ( 3/50 ) ; OR 1.38 ( 95 % CI 1.13 - 1.69 ) , P = 0.031 ] . In multivariate regression , rickets significantly predict a reduced successful treatment compared with non-rachitic [ 79.4 % ( 81/102 ) vs. 94 % ( 47/50 ) ; Adjusted OR 0.41 ( 95 % CI 0.20 - 0.85 ) ; P = 0.02 ] . VDD was strongly associated with reduced PMNs% [ Mean ( SD ) 37 ( 17 ) vs. 47 ( 17 ) ; Adjusted OR 0.71 ( 95 % CI 0.53 - 0.95 ) , P = 0.02 ] , and reduced SpO(2)% [ Mean ( SD ) 85.9 ( 7.9 ) vs. 89.8 ( 7.1 ) ; OR 0.96 ( 95 % CI 0.93 - 0.99 ) , P = 0.021 ] . CONCLUSIONS In VSP , rickets was significantly associated with treatment outcome and VDD significantly predict both reduced circulating PMNs , and Day-5 hypoxemia ( SpO(2)% , < 88 % )
Children with LRTI were found to have significantly lower mean vitamin D levels as compared to controls There was likewise a correlation between vitamin D levels and incidence and severity of LRTI .
Studies related to vitamin D deficiency and lower respiratory tract infections ( LRTI ) in children have inconsistent findings .
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with LRTI , and to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D levels and the incidence and severity of LRTI .