Vitamin D levels in children with allergic rhinitis and asthma in South India: A cross-sectional study

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been declared a public health problem for both adults and children worldwide. Asthma and related allergic disorders are leading causes of morbidity in children. The objective of this study was to estimate Vitamin D levels in children suffering from asthma and allergic rhinitis in North Kerala. Objectives: (1) To evaluate Vitamin D levels among children between the age group 5 and 18 years suffering from asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. (2) To study the factors associated with low levels of Vitamin D and (3) to study the correlation between Vitamin D levels, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and absolute eosinophil count (AEC). Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of hospital data in which data of children between the age group 5 and 18 years attending the pulmonology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in North Kerala are captured. The study period was 6 months from March 01, 2021, to August 31, 2021. Detailed clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations including complete blood cell count, IgE, and 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (Vitamin D) level were done. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and asthma is made on the clinical presentation by an experienced pulmonologist. Family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis was also recorded. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel, and analysis was done using Epi Info 7. Means and standard deviation were calculated, and correlation was assessed between Vitamin D levels, IgE, AEC, and age of the children. Results: Thirty percent of children in the study group had Vitamin D deficiency, 56% had insufficient values, and 14% had normal values. Most of the children with low Vitamin D levels had raised values for IgE and AEC, but the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Most of the children in this part of the state presenting with respiratory allergy have low or insufficient levels of Vitamin D. This may be one of the reasons for poor control of symptoms and such children may require Vitamin D supplementation along with optimal treatment of respiratory allergy.