Vitamin deficiency and vitamin K deficiency. In the medical literature, any of these may also be called by names on the pattern of "hypovitaminosis" or "avitaminosis" + "[letter of vitamin]", for example, hypovitaminosis A, hypovitaminosis C, hypovitaminosis D. Conversely hypervitaminosis is the syndrome of symptoms caused by over-retention of fat-soluble vitamins in the body. Vitamin deficiency A vitamin deficiency can cause a disease or syndrome known as an avitaminosis or hypovitaminosis. This usually refers to a long-term deficiency of a vitamin. When caused by inadequate nutrition it can be classed as a "primary deficiency", and when due to an underlying disorder such
Vitamin D deficiency in Australia deformities, hypocalcemia, tetany and seizures. During the late 19th century autopsies conducted in the Netherlands concluded that 80-90% of children were suffering from Rickets. The incidents of rickets observed within Sydney hospitals during the years of 2003 – 2004 have doubled. This major spike can be attributed to the growing population of migrants in Australia, many of whom are considered high risk of vitamin D deficiency. As shown in the image the skeletal deformities such as knock knees and bow legs in these young children as a result of rickets. Because of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, conditions