Osteoporosis is a disease of porous bones caused by accelerated breakdown of bone, too little bone formation or both. Osteopenia is the precursor of osteoporosis. It is characterized by lower bone mass than normal for the age of the person and is a good indicator of future osteoporosis if left untreated. Both of these are usually found in middle-aged or elderly people, but according to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, children can also have low bone mass.
Low Bone Mass Secondary To Other Diseases or Treatments
Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can also experience osteoporosis near infected joints. Other diseases directly associated with low bone mass are diabetes, overactive thyroid or parathyroid, Cushing's syndrome, anorexia nervosa, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease and malabsorption disorders such as celiac disease.
Medications used to treat diseases can themselves cause bone loss. These medications include anticonvulsants used to treat seizure disorders, immunosuppressants used to treat autoimmune disorders and to prevent transplant rejection, and corticosteroids used to treat asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
Lifestyle Causes
Many children today have a sedentary lifestyle, which can result in low bone mass. They may drink more soda and juice than milk, resulting in low calcium intake, and they may spend too much time indoors instead of playing in the sun, leading to vitamin D deficiency. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, the increase in childhood obesity may also contribute to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is believed to be stored in fat cells, which makes it unavailable for the body to use. Obesity is also a risk factor for diabetes, which is associated with juvenile osteoporosis.
Unexplained Causes
Some children develop what is called idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis. This means that doctors are unable to identify the cause. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, most children recover completely from this type of osteoporosis. However, the child can suffer from broken bones or spinal curvature before recovering, so an early diagnosis is important.
Identifying Osteoporosis in Children
Too often the first sign of a problem is a broken bone. While it's not abnormal for a child suffering significant trauma to break a bone, children with osteoporosis tend to break bones easily. Children may also complain of aching and back pain.
What To Do
If your child often complains of aches and pains, breaks bones in minor accidents or has any of the disease or medication risk factors, talk to your doctor about tests that can measure your child's bone mass.
In normal development, bone mass peaks by age 30. Children whose bone mass does not develop well in childhood are at increased risk for osteoporosis later in life, even if they do not go on to develop it in childhood. Heed the same lifestyle advice given to adults who want to save or improve their bone mass and make sure your children get enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise to guarantee them bones to last a lifetime.
