Study on 25 (OH) Vitamin D Status in Hospitalizied Children with Acute Respiratory Infections: Preliminary Results

Our study aimed to determine and analyze the serum levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) to assess vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for increased morbidity of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in childhood. The changes in the serum parathormone level were used as a criterion for vitamin D sufficiency since an optimal level of 25 (OH) vitamin D is required for normal PTH values. The study included 87 children divided into four subgroups, respectively – children with acute bronchopneumonia (n=49), children with acute laryngotracheitis (n=11), children with acute bronchiolitis (n=16), and a control group (n=11). Subnormal Vit. D levels were found in the individual groups: in the bronchopneumonia group, 18 children showed evidence of insufficiency; in the group of children with laryngotracheitis, five children showed insufficiency, and one child had Vit.D deficiency; children with acute bronchiolitis showed abnormalities in vit. D levels: seven children with insufficiency and two children - with deficiency. The preliminary results showed that Vit. D status deviations are more common in children with acute respiratory infections than in healthy children.