TY - JOUR
T1 - Scurvy and rickets masked by chronic neurologic illness
T2 - Revisiting "psychologic malnutrition"?
AU - Noble, James Mc Callum
AU - Mandel, Arthur
AU - Patterson, Marc C.
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - The North American epidemic of overeating, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, has led to a growing prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and the "?metabolic syndrome"? in children. Excessive caloric intake does not imply adequate nutrition, and vitamin-deficiency syndromes still occur in some American children. Here we describe cases of scurvy and vitamin D deficiency in 2 children with cognitive disorders. Thorough dietary histories suggested the diagnosis in each patient and, had they been obtained at presentation, would likely have obviated invasive diagnostic workup, unnecessary stress to the patients and their families, and significant functional disability. Overnutrition and malnutrition may coexist, particularly among those with abnormal cognition or autistic spectrum disorders. Classic nutritional deficiencies must not be omitted from the differential diagnosis. A comprehensive dietary history and screening for vitamin deficiencies in at-risk children are important aspects of preventive health care and are essential for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
AB - The North American epidemic of overeating, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, has led to a growing prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and the "?metabolic syndrome"? in children. Excessive caloric intake does not imply adequate nutrition, and vitamin-deficiency syndromes still occur in some American children. Here we describe cases of scurvy and vitamin D deficiency in 2 children with cognitive disorders. Thorough dietary histories suggested the diagnosis in each patient and, had they been obtained at presentation, would likely have obviated invasive diagnostic workup, unnecessary stress to the patients and their families, and significant functional disability. Overnutrition and malnutrition may coexist, particularly among those with abnormal cognition or autistic spectrum disorders. Classic nutritional deficiencies must not be omitted from the differential diagnosis. A comprehensive dietary history and screening for vitamin deficiencies in at-risk children are important aspects of preventive health care and are essential for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
KW - Autistic spectrum disorder
KW - Hypocalcemia
KW - Malnutrition
KW - Scurvy
KW - Vitamin D deficiency
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U2 - 10.1542/peds.2006-1071
DO - 10.1542/peds.2006-1071
M3 - Article
C2 - 17332193
AN - SCOPUS:33947095394
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 119
SP - e783-e790
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 3
ER -