Rickets Bone Disease

Rickets, also called osteomalacia, is a disorder of the bones that is primarily caused by a vitamin D deficiency. It is typically a childhood disease, since a vitamin D deficiency hinders the growth and development of the bones during their formative years. Vitamin D works to regulate the levels of phosphorus and calcium ---- vital nutrients for bone development ---- in the body. When there is a vitamin D deficiency the calcium and phosphorus from food is not properly absorbed. In children, this causes the bones to become soft and weak, which results in bone deformities.

Significance

• Children between the ages of 6 months and 24 months, who do not get enough vitamin D, are most susceptible to rickets. Vitamin D is present in fortified milk, seafood, beef liver and eggs. The skin also produces vitamin D when it absorbs sunlight. Although nutritional rickets is very rare today, it is still a problem for children in underdeveloped countries because they generally do not have access to the foods that have high vitamin D content.

Causes

• The risk of a vitamin D deficiency is higher in people who are dark-skinned, do not get enough exposure to sunlight, do not consume milk and dairy products, and are vegetarians. Infants, whose primary source of nourishment is breast milk, are also at risk because breast milk doesn't contain vitamin D. Therefore, it is very important for nursing mothers to give their infants vitamin D supplements. Children can also inherit rickets in the form of a disease that renders the kidneys incapable of sustaining phosphate levels. Some kidney disorders that result in high levels of acids in the urine can also cause rickets. In rare cases, rickets can also be caused by some liver disorders.

Symptoms

• A child suffering from rickets has soft bones, which can bend and break easily. The child may feel pain in the arms, legs and back. Other symptoms include: frequent bone fractures, stunted growth, bowed legs and arms, curved spine, enlarged forehead, enlarged abdomen, deformities of teeth, malformed ribcage, and muscle cramps. A child who suffers from deformities of the skull may experience seizures and mental abnormalities due to underdevelopment of the brain.

Treatment

• The treatment of rickets is aimed at relieving the symptoms and depends on the cause of the condition. If the cause is lack of nutrition, vitamin D and calcium supplements along with a proper diet ---- seafood and dairy products ---- can help relieve the symptoms in three to nine months. Parents should also make sure that their children get enough exposure to sunlight. Kidney and liver disorders that cause rickets require condition-specific treatments.

Complications

• If rickets is not treated during infancy, it can cause permanent skeletal abnormalities. This means that the child may not grow to his full size and may suffer from physical and mental disabilities. Surgery, performed while the bones are still developing, can also help improve some skeletal deformities.