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Children's Bone Diseases

Bones provide structure for movement, protect internal organs, produce blood and store minerals for the body. They grow and strengthen---some even fuse together---from infancy through adolescence. Some bone diseases in children can prevent proper bone growth or impede various functions of the bones. For diseases with no known cure, careful management is required; others may respond effectively to medical intervention.

  1. Ewing's Sarcoma

    • Ewing's sarcoma is a rare cancer that only accounts for 2 to 3 percent of childhood cancers, according to Children's Hospital Boston (CHB), and primarily affects young people 10 to 20. It usually develops in the shin (tibia) or thigh (femur) bone or in the upper arm (humerus) bone. Symptoms, according to CHB, include pain, swelling and/or redness, fever, weight loss, decreased appetite and fatigue. Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation and stem-cell transplantation, as well as surgery to remove a portion of the bone while saving the limb or, in severe or complicated cases, amputation of the affected limb.

    Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH)

    • According to CHB, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare disease, mostly affects children under the age of 10; in infants, it can be fatal. Langerhans cell histiocytosis causes too many of a specific white blood cell to accumulate on bones and other parts of the body, causing myriad complications including weakness, the inability to gain weight, vision problems; fever; loose or lost teeth, and multiple ear infections. Treatments depend upon the severity of the disease and its symptoms and may include steroids and hormones, surgery to remove LCH cells, radiation and even chemotherapy.

    Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)

    • Also known as brittle bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic bone disorder, results in collagen failing to help strengthen and protect bones, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS). There are eight types of OI, ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms, according to NIAMS, include malformed bones; frequent fractures; loose joints; muscle weakness; a blue, purple or gray tint to the whites of the eyes; curved spine; and breathing problems. Because there is no cure for OI, parents must help their children manage the life-long condition with guidance of a medical specialist.

    Osteosarcoma

    • KidsHealth.com states that osteosarcoma is the sixth most prevalent form of cancer among children. More common in adolescent boys, especially those who are taller than average, it most often occurs in the bones around the knee---though it can form in other bones within the body---and symptoms include pain as well as possible swelling or a lump in the affected area. Some children won't have any symptoms until they break a bone that has been weakened by the cancer. According to KidsHealth.com, treatment usually includes chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove the affected bone while saving the limb or, in severe cases, amputation.

    Rickets

    • In children, a severe and prolonged deficiency in vitamin D can lead to rickets. The Mayo Clinic explains insufficient amounts of the vitamin prevent bones from absorbing necessary amounts of calcium and phosphorous, causing the bones to weaken. Simply returning vitamin D to a child's system will alleviate rickets if a dietary deficiency was the cause. The Mayo Clinic states that rickets also can be hereditary or result from celiac disease or renal tubular acidosis; in these cases, other treatment may be necessary.

    Warning

    • If a child exhibits any symptoms of severe or prolonged pain in his bones or joints or suffers from any related symptoms described in the paragraphs above, parents should always seek medical guidance for a proper diagnosis.

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