ANALYSIS OF SERUM CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN RICKETS AND NON RICKETS CHILDREN OF GONIN-GORA, KASO AND JANKASA COMMUNITIES IN KADUNA STATE
ANALYSIS OF SERUM CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN RICKETS AND NON RICKETS CHILDREN OF GONIN-GORA, KASO AND JANKASA COMMUNITIES IN KADUNA STATE
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Date
2011-03
Authors
OKPE, INUWA
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Abstract
The beginning of the 20th century witnessed the epidemic of nutritional rickets
among children in many countries of Asia, North America, Northern Europe and Africa.
Nutritional rickets remain a problem in developing countries despite a decline in the
prevalence of the condition in developed countries. Prevalence of rickets among infants
and young children is high in Nigeria and in Gonin-Gora, Jankasa and Kaso in particular.
It was therefore imperative to evaluate some biochemical parameters in rickets disease
prevalence areas of Kaduna state namely: Gonin Gora, Jankasa and Kaso. This study
aimed at determining the serum levels of calcium and phosphorus together with the levels
of associated biochemical parameters for the affected family member in these
communities; as an investigation into the scourge of rickets. Randox Diagnostic test kit
was used to determine the serum levels of calcium and urea while creatinine and
phosphorus serum levels were measured using Agappe Diagnostic kit, serum sodium and
potassium levels were determined using flame photometric method. The results obtained
showed that serum calcium levels were low with mean values of 2.29± 0.01 S.E.M., 2.34+
0.01 S.E.M and 2.24 ± 0.01 S.E.M in Gonin Gora, Jankasa and Kaso respectively
compared with the 2.25-2.75 mmol/l normal limit. Phosphorous levels were toward the
upper limit with mean values of 1.48 ± 0.02 S.E.M and 1.68 ± 0.02 S.E.M in Gonin gora
and Jankasa respectively; compared with the normal limit of 0.8-1.9 mmol/l. However the
mean serum calcium for rickets children from Kaso community (2.19 ± 0.03S.E.M) was
below the normal range value of (2.25-2.75mmol/dL). None of the differences in
measured levels was statistically significant. Rickets among rural children has been
reported to be attributed to low serum calcium levels. The low serum levels of calcium and
high serum phosphorus levels could be the major causes of the disease in these settlements
especially during the period of the children growth. Also when the mean biochemical
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parameters for Gonin-Gora, Jankasa and Kaso were compared, the results showed that
calcium levels was much more significantly reduced in Kaso compared with the other two
communities, and this could be the reason why more rickets children were found in Kaso
compared to Gonin-Gora and Jankasa. The results of influence of sex among the rickets
and non rickets males and females children showed that, sex had no significant influence
in the parameters of rickets male and females children living in Gonin-Gora, Jankasa and
Kaso communities.
In conclusion, the concentrations of serum calcium for rickets children were at the
lower limit of normal range while the concentration of serum phosphorus were at the
higher limit of the normal range which can be attributed to rickets disorder among
children.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN
PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY,
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
ANALYSIS,, SERUM,, CALCIUM,, PHOSPHORUS,, RICKETS,, NON RICKETS,, CHILDREN,, GONIN-GORA,, KASO AND JANKASA,, COMMUNITIES,, KADUNA STATE