A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years
Authors: Jessica Gencarelli, Alessandra Iacono, Giuditta Pellino, Cristina Host, Giuseppe Maggiore
Background: Hypocalcemia is one of the most common disorders of metabolism in children. One of the most known causes is hypovitaminosis D, an extremely widespread condition in the world, both in developed and developing countries. Etiology is related to poor exposure to sunlight and inadequate diet, especially in subjects with dark skin or exclusively breastfed or born to mothers with vitamin D deficiency by ethnic and cultural reasons. Case Presentation: We report a case of a teenager from Morocco, who presented a tetanic crisis in the course of influenza B. The laboratory tests showed severe hypocalcemia and low serum vitamin D concentration with increased parathyroid hormone value. The administration of calcium and vitamin D normalized the clinical and laboratory parameters. Conclusions: Adolescents of ethnic groups at risk frequently find themselves in a chronic situation of altered metabolism deriving from vitamin D deficiency. Hence, a simple insult, as influenza B virus, can lead to severe pathological manifestations.
Keywords: Hypovitaminosis D risk factors, hypocalcemia, influenza B, adolescent, case report
Authors
Correspondence to:
Jessica Gencarelli, Section of Pediatrics, Medical Department, University Hospital of Ferrara, Arcispedale Sant'Anna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy gncjsc@unife.it
Publication history:
Received 12 May 2020
Revised 26 May 2020
Accepted 01 Jun 2020
Published online 27 Jun 2020
Published in print 09 Jul 2020
Gencarelli J, Iacono A, Pellino G, Host C, Maggiore G. A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. EJMCR. 2020; 4(6): 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli J, Iacono A, Pellino G, Host C, Maggiore G. A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. https://www.ejmcr.com/?mno=105889 [Access: May 08, 2024]. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli J, Iacono A, Pellino G, Host C, Maggiore G. A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. EJMCR. 2020; 4(6): 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli J, Iacono A, Pellino G, Host C, Maggiore G. A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. EJMCR. (2020), [cited May 08, 2024]; 4(6): 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli, J., Iacono, . A., Pellino, . G., Host, . C. & Maggiore, . G. (2020) A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. EJMCR, 4 (6), 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli, Jessica, Alessandra Iacono, Giuditta Pellino, Cristina Host, and Giuseppe Maggiore. 2020. A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 4 (6), 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli, Jessica, Alessandra Iacono, Giuditta Pellino, Cristina Host, and Giuseppe Maggiore. "A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 4 (2020), 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli, Jessica, Alessandra Iacono, Giuditta Pellino, Cristina Host, and Giuseppe Maggiore. "A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 4.6 (2020), 223-225. Print. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287
Gencarelli, J., Iacono, . A., Pellino, . G., Host, . C. & Maggiore, . G. (2020) A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 4 (6), 223-225. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1589037287