ROLE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN SEVERITY AND RECOVERY OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN
Main Article Content
Keywords
Vitamin D deficiency, community-acquired pneumonia, children, disease severity, recovery outcomes
Abstract
Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been a major challenge in morbidity and hospitalization in developing countries in children. Vitamin D is significant in immune response and respiratory host defense and its deficiency has been increasingly found to be susceptible to infections. Nevertheless, there is still limited evidence on its impact on the severity of the disease and recovery of pediatric CAP.
Objective: To evaluate the role of vitamin D deficiency in determining the severity and recovery outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia in children
Methodology: This is a prospective observational study that has been done in the Department of Pediatrics, Naseer Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, between January 2024 and January 2025. The number of children enrolled was 72 and they were diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. The level of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was quantified at admission, and the participants were defined as vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/mL) or non-deficient (≥20 ng/mL). There were comparisons of clinical severity, laboratory and radiographic results and recovery outcomes; such as oxygen requirement, hospitalization time and recovery time.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 61.1% of children. Deficient children had a significantly higher proportion of severe or very severe pneumonia, lower oxygen saturation at presentation, and greater need for oxygen therapy. Recovery was slower in the deficient group, with longer duration of hospital stay and delayed fever clearance. Serum C-reactive protein levels were also significantly higher among vitamin D deficient children.
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased severity and delayed recovery in children with community-acquired pneumonia. Assessment of vitamin D status may be useful in identifying children at risk of severe disease and prolonged hospitalization.
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Irum Naz
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Naseer Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
Saeed ur Rehman
Specialist Registrar(SPR), Department of Paediatrics, Gomal Medical College/DHQ Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Hamid Iqbal
District Children Specialist, Department of Peadiatrics, DHQ Hospital, Battagram, Pakistan
Tariq Alam
Specialist Registrar(SPR), Department of Paediatrics, Gomal Medical College/DHQ Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Saman Mumtaz
Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Pak International Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
Javeria Iqbal
Senior Registrar, Department of Paediatrics, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
