Hygieia

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN

A survey of paediatricians in the West Midlands, UK in 2001 identified 24 cases of vitamin D deficiency in children under 5 years old, with an overall incidence of 7.5 per 100 000 children. Eleven children had bowed legs, which presented at around 18 months, six had hypocalcaemic convulsions at about 6 weeks and four had gross motor delay at a mean age of 17.7 months. All children were black African or African-Caribbean. Although the majority of children were being breast fed, 50% of those with hypocalcaemic convulsions were formula fed, suggesting that the vitamin D content of infant formula feeds is inadequate and that vitamin D supplements should be given to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women. (

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ESTIMATING THE NUMBER OF MSM WITH MEN

Although the AIDS epidemic significantly affects men who have sex with men (MSM), data on MSM are scarce, particularly in developing countries. Of 561 studies on male sexual behaviour and/or MSM population characteristics only 67 addressed the prevalence of sex between men. In regions where the MSM populations have been ignored there is evidence …