European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HYPERVITAMINOSIS D: A RARE PEDIATRIC CASE REPORT

Dr. Dipti Jain, Dr. Anita Manoj, Dr. Gourav Patel, *Dr. Deepa Shetty, Dr. Mangala Narayane, Dr. Nagnath Kagane, Dr. Amit Rudrakar, Dr. Mahipal Burdak

ABSTRACT

Vitamin D toxicity (VDT), also called hypervitaminosis D, is a rare but potentially serious condition that occurs when there is excessive amount of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in India. This has set off a trend among medical practitioners to prescribe vitamin D supplements empirically. Whilst this approach is generally safe, but in predisposed individuals it may lead to hypervitaminosis D. Although VDT is rare, the adverse effects can be life threatening if not promptly identified and treated. To establish a diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D there has to be a clinical and biochemical hypercalcemia along with calciuria and hypoparathyroidism with elevated serum vitamin D levels. Here we report a rare paediatric case of acute toxicity due to excessive vitamin D supplementation. He required steroid therapy and responded well to treatment with reversal of symptoms. Our report highlights the need to use vitamin D therapy judiciously and to remain vigilant for side-effects.

Keywords: Hypervitaminosis D, hypercalcemia, hypoparathyroidism.