Rickets

Rickets causes soft, weak bones in children. It usually occurs when they do not get enough vitamin D, which helps growing bones absorb important nutrients. Vitamin D comes from sunlight and food. Your skin produces vitamin D in response to the sun's rays. Some foods also contain vitamin D, including fortified dairy products and cereals, and some kinds of fish. Your child might not get enough vitamin D if he or she

Has dark skin
Spends too little time outside
Has on sunscreen all the time when out of doors
Doesn't eat foods containing vitamin D because of lactose intolerance or a strict vegetarian diet
Is breastfed without receiving vitamin D supplements
Can't make or use vitamin D because of a medical disorder such as celiac disease

In addition to dietary rickets, children can get an inherited form of the disease.

Rickets on Wikipedia

'''Rickets''' is a disorder of infancy and early childhood of multiple etiologies. Rickets, causing soft bones, may occur if enough vitamin D is not present to assist in calcium absorption. When enough calcium is not absorbed by the bone, it does not harden properly, and is too soft to support the weight of the growing body properly. The disease of rickets takes its name from the Greek word for spine, ''rhakhis''.

Aetiology

Vitamin D is made by the body when it is exposed to ultraviolet light (sunlight). Vitamin D is also added to milk, milk products, and multi-vitamin pills. Some people who do not get enough sun exposure, milk products, or green vegetables may also develop the disease. Deficiency of calcium can also cause rickets, particularly in some developing countries where the intake of calcium-rich products such as leafy greens, nuts, and seeds is low. Tofu, when prepared using calcium sulphate, provides four times more calcium than cow's milk. Hereditary rickets, is caused by an inherited disease that interferes with the resorption of renal tubular phosphate in the kidney. Rickets can also be caused by certain liver diseases. A similar disorder can occur in adults, and is called osteomalacia. Then, it is caused by the inability of bone cells to calcify, or harden. Less frequently, nutritional shortage of calcium or phosphorus may produce rickets.

Manifestations of disease

Rickets causes bone pain, slowed growth in children, dental problems, muscle loss and increased risk of fractures (easily broken bones). Medical problems seen in children with rickets are #Vitamin D deficiency, #Skeletal deformity, #Growth disturbance, #Hypocalcemia (low level of calcium in the blood), #Tetany (uncontrolled muscle spasms). The X-ray, or radiograph, in the article is the classic image of advanced ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Rickets - Official site of the Huntsville, Alabama based band. Contact information, and show schedule.

Bone Health - Recommended books for osteoporosis and osteopenia prevention and treatment. May also be helpful for other defective bone conditions such as osteomalacia, rickets, pectus excavatum, pectus carnitum, fractures and scoliosis.

Rickets - Adam.com looks at this disorder, its alternate names, the causes, incidence and risk factors.

XLH Network - Patient support group for XLH, a genetic condition also known as X-Linked Hypophosphatemia, X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets, Familial Hypophosphatemia, Vitamin D-Resistant Rickets.

Vitamin D- Facts and Information - Facts on the vitamin such as RDA intake, functions, absorption, and deficiency signs including rickets.

Rickets - ProVet healthcare information article explaining what rickets is.

The Rickets Scare - A refutation of the claim that Muslim women suffer from rickets due to the practice of veiling.

OJ - Trivia quiz on the trial, including questions such as "Which attorney went to jail?" and "Who had rickets?".

Childhood rickets is making a comeback - [CNN]

Rickets resurgence: Disease makes a comeback - [CNN]

Rickets

Rickets on Wikipedia

Aetiology

Manifestations of disease

External Resources

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