DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Hypocalcemia

Why: e.g. pins and needles, numbness around the mouth, cramps, anxiety, muscular contractions (tetany). The symptoms may be followed by seizures, stridor and psychosis.

Why: lack of sunlight exposure can cause Vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia and thus low calcium.

Why: e.g. acute pancreatitis, chronic renal failure, DiGeorge's syndrome, hypoparathyroidism.

Why: e.g. immediately following removal of thyroid or parathyroid low calcium levels are usually transient.

Why: some medications may cause low calcium levels including calcitonin and diphosphonates; prolonged laxative use can cause low magnesium and thus low calcium.

Why: e.g. X-linked hypophosphatemia (rickets).

Why: The early stages of renal failure are often completely without symptoms. Later symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, insomnia, frequency of urination, itch, nausea, vomiting, restless legs.

Why: Presents in infants usually in the first few weeks of life with signs of congenital heart disease (blue lips and skin, shortness of breath, poor feeding, failure to thrive) and later with intellectual impairment, visual impairment (from cataracts).

Why: e.g. short stature, short metacarpal bones (hand bones), intellectual impairment.

Why: e.g. bowing and bending of the legs when the child starts to walk, delayed dentition, muscular weakness.