Association between Serum 25 OH Vitamin D Level and Pediatric Complicated Community Aquired Pneumonia

Abstract Background The most common infectious killer of children under 5 years old worldwide is pneumonia. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency in children and teenagers has been found to be very high all over the world. It has been suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor in the epidemic of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI), especially community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Objectives to investigate serum vitamin D level in pediatric patients hospitalized with complicated pneumonia (CP). Patients and Methods This was a case control study that was held in Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University, where 100 children admitted to the hospital with complicated pneumonia, 100 children with uncomplicated pneumonia and 120 apparently healthy control children were enrolled in this study. The serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25D) level was assessed using ELISA method. Results In comparison to controls, 25-OH vitamin D serum level was significantly lower in patients with CP and uncomplicated pneumonia (p 0.001). Also compared to controls (19%), CP (60%) and uncomplicated pneumonia (40%) had higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. Also individuals with vitamin D deficiency are 1.7 times more likely to develop complicated pneumonia (CP) than individuals with uncomplicated pneumonia (OR = 1.69; (95% CI: 0.91-3.14), p = 0.001). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for the development of pediatric pneumonia and progression to complicated pneumonia.