Pediatric Hypocalcemia Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Robert J Ferry Jr, MD; Chief Editor: Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 9, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of hypocalcemia include the following:

  • Anoxia
  • Intracranial bleeding
  • Narcotic withdrawal
  • Pseudohypoparathyroidism
  • Rickets, osteomalacia, or rachitis (ie, vitamin D deficiency)
  • Hyperphosphatemia
  • Hypoalbuminemia
  • Hypomagnesemia
  • Renal failure
  • Metabolic disease affecting vitamin D, seizures

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert J Ferry Jr, MD  Le Bonheur Chair of Excellence in Endocrinology, Professor and Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Deputy Commander for Clinical Services, Texas Medical Command, Army National Guard

Robert J Ferry Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Texas Pediatric Society

Disclosure: Nutropin Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genotropin Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Eli Lilly & Co. Grant/research funds Investigator; MacroGenics, Inc. Grant/research funds Investigator; Ipsen, S.A. (formerly Tercica, Inc.) Grant/research funds Investigator; NovoNordisk SA Grant/research funds Investigator; Diamyd Investigator

Coauthor(s)

Abhay Singhal, MD  Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Abhay Singhal, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Deborah E Campbell, MD  Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Director, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Weiler Hospital Division of Montefiore Medical Center

Deborah E Campbell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, National Perinatal Association, and New York Academy of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Arkansas Children's Hospital

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

George P Chrousos, MD, FAAP, MACP, MACE, FRCP(London) Professor and Chair, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Greece; UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, University of Athens, Greece

George P Chrousos, MD, FAAP, MACP, MACE, FRCP(London) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Endocrinology, American College of Physicians, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Thomas A Wilson, MD Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Chief and Program Director, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center

Thomas A Wilson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Gertner JM. Disorders of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. Pediatr Clin North Am. Dec 1990;37(6):1441-65. [Medline].

  2. Jackson GL, Sendelbach DM, Stehel EK, et al. Association of hypocalcemia with a change in gentamicin administration in neonates. Pediatr Nephrol. Jul 2003;18(7):653-6. [Medline].

  3. [Guideline] Wagner CL, Greer FR. Prevention of rickets and vitamin d deficiency in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics. Nov 2008;122(5):1142-52. [Medline].

  4. Newfield RS. Recombinant PTH for initial management of neonatal hypocalcemia. N Engl J Med. Apr 19 2007;356(16):1687-8. [Medline].

  5. Mulligan ML, Felton SK, Riek AE, Bernal-Mizrachi C. Implications of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and lactation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. Oct 19 2009;[Medline].

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Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in severe hypocalcemia.
 
 
 
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