Rickets is a bone disorder characterized by a softening and weakening of the bones due to a lack of adequate dietary intake of vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus. Rickets usually affects children between the ages of 6 and 24 months since this is the most rapid period of bone growth. In order to prevent rickets, it is important that a child receives the proper nutrition.
Physiology
Calcium and phosphorus combine in your body to form a structure called hydroxyapatite, which is the main component of bone. When bones grow, your body uses hydroxyapatite to create their structure and ensure that newly formed bones are strong. If there is not enough calcium and phosphorus in your blood, hydroxyapatite cannot be formed. Your body still creates new bones, but these bones are weak and soft. The vitamin D in your body helps increase the rate at which your small intestine absorbs calcium and phosphorus. This increased absorption rate ensures that there is enough of these minerals in your blood to properly form hydroxyapatite.
Causes
The most common cause of rickets is an inadequate amount of vitamin D in the diet. If a child does not receive enough vitamin D, the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood fall. Not only does this result in a decreased formation in hydroxyapatite, but it also triggers hormones to pull calcium and phosphorus out of the bones to restore levels in the blood. A child also may develop rickets due to a lack of calcium or phosphorus, although the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that this is rare in developed countries.
Symptoms
Rickets is often characterized by bowed legs and a curved spine. This occurs because the child's bones have become so weak that they no longer support the child's body weight. A child with rickets also may have thickened wrists and ankles and a protruding breast bone. Other signs of rickets include delayed growth, muscle weakness and pain in the legs, pelvis and spine.
Treatment
MayoClinic.com notes that most cases of rickets can be successfully treated with supplementation of the missing nutrient or nutrients. Specific supplement dosage depends on the child's size, age and gender. If you suspect that your child has rickets, you should contact your doctor immediately. Do not give your child supplements if you are not under the care of a medical professional.
If your child has already developed severe skeletal deformities, medical braces and/or surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.
