Rickets - Causes and Symptoms

Softening of bones in children due to deficiency or impaired metabolism of Vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorous or calcium is known as Rickets, potentially leading to fractures or deformity. Rickets is mostly prevalent in developing countries, especially in dark skinned people as production of vitamin D is less in dark skinned people. Osteomalacia is a similar condition, usually occurring in adults, caused by vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is usually absorbed by body from food or is produced in skin due to exposure to sunlight. Lack of vitamin D is common in people who live in climates with little exposure to sunlight, stay indoors or work indoors during the daylight hours. People who Are lactose intolerant (have trouble digesting milk products), do not consume milk products or follow a vegetarian diet are at risk of having rickets. Rickets can be caused by genetic reasons too. Hereditary rickets is a form of the disease that is passed down through families. It occurs when the kidneys are unable to hold onto the mineral phosphate. Rickets may also be caused by kidney disorders that involve renal tubular acidosis. Even people who use strong sun blocks can also develop Vitamin D deficiency, caused by inability to make vitamin D because the sun's ultraviolet light was not reaching the skin because of persistent use of strong sun block, or too much "covering up" in sunlight. It is not just the tanning you get from sun but vitamin D too which is essential for our bones. Symptoms of Rickets are: • Bone pain or tenderness • dental problems • muscle weakness (rickety myopathy or "floppy baby syndrome" or "slinky baby" (such that the baby is floppy or slinky-like) • increased tendency for fractures (easily broken bones), especially greenstick fractures • Skeletal deformity o Toddlers: Bowed legs o Older children: Knock-knees or "windswept knees" o Cranial, pelvic, and spinal deformities (such as lumbar lordosis) • Growth disturbance • Hypocalcaemia (low level of calcium in the blood) • Tetany (uncontrolled muscle spasms all over the body) • Craniotabes (soft skull) • Costochondral swelling (aka "rickety rosary" or "rachitic rosary") • Harrison's groove • Double malleoli sign due to metaphyseal hyperplasia • Widening of wrist raises early suspicion, it is due to metaphyseal cartilage hyperplasia. Children aged from 6 to 24 months are more likely to get rickets because there bones are rapidly growing. Among children following children are more at risk of developing rickets: • Breast-fed infants whose mothers are not exposed to sunlight. • Breast-fed infants who are not exposed to sunlight. • Breast-fed babies who are exposed to sunlight little. • Any child whose diet does not contain enough vitamin D or calcium. If you think your child is likely to have vitamin deficiency then you must contact a pediatrician or a rheumatologist for proper guidance. If your child is suffering from rickets, take the child to a rheumatology physician for the correct treatment. The child specialist or rheumatologist may advise you to let your child be exposed to sunlight or may prescribe any vitamin D or calcium supplement or both according to the severity of his condition. For taking doctor’s appointment online go to Bookmydoctor.com.

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