Nutritional rickets is associated with an increased risk of acute lower respiratory infections. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in the under 5 -year old children with the highest burden in developing countries.

Does lack of vitamin D cause pneumonia?

In addition to causing rickets, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to respiratory infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and bronchiolitis. Pneumonia is a severe form of acute lower respiratory tract infection and is the leading cause of death in children worldwide.

Is rickets a lung disease?

The aetiology of respiratory disease in the context of rickets has been classically attributed to osteodystrophy of the thoracic cage, compression of lung parenchyma, and hypocalcaemic myopathy of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, leading to impaired clearance and respiratory infections.