Relationship between upper respiratory tract infection incidence and low vitamin D levels in children
Mustafa Suphi Elbistanlı, Mustafa Çelik, Selçuk Güneş, Yakup Yegin, Kamil Hakan Kaya, Sinan Canpolat, Fatma Tülin Kayhan
Keywords: Child, infection, level, upper respiratory tract, vitamin D.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) incidence and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in pediatric population.
METHODS: The study included 336 patients (183 boys, 153 girls; mean age 57.62 month; range 13-120 month) who presented to our clinic with URTI and simultaneously scanned for vitamin D levels by our pediatric clinic. Patients were divided into three groups according to their 25(OH)D levels: Group A (<50 nmol/L, n=139, 41.37%), group B (50-80 nmol/L, n=145, 43.15%) and group C (80-250 nmol/L, n=52, 15.48%). The incidence of URTI attacks and vitamin D levels were determined by scanning the stored data in the hospital system and their relationship was evaluated.
RESULTS: The incidence of upper respiratory tract infection was statistically significantly lower in group B than in group A, and statistically significantly lower in group C than group A and B (p=0.0001).
CONCLUSION: The incidence of URTI is higher in children with low serum 25(OH)D levels. Low serum vitamin D levels may be a factor increasing the incidence of URTI attacks in children.