1. Loss of Bone Density in Children
Osteoporosis is a condition marked by loss of bone density and/or improper formation of bones. Osteoporosis means "porous bone." In this condition, bones are weakened and brittle. We often think of osteoporosis in relation to older women who have had insufficient calcium intake, but there is a rare form that attacks children, called juvenile osteoporosis. It is most commonly seen in children between eight and 14 years of age, but may occur during growth spurts in earlier childhood.
2. More to Drinking All Your Milk Than You Might Think
Juvenile osteoporosis may be the result of a number of causes. In many cases, it is associated with another disease or condition, such as juvenile arthritis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, kidney disease, anorexia nervosa or malabsorption. It has also been linked to the use of some medications, most notably corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and anti-convulsants used to treat seizures. Lifestyle and dietary issues can also play a part. Juvenile osteoporosis can result from too much inactivity or from a lack of calcium and vitamin D. More rarely, there is no cause detected; this is referred to as idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis.
3. The Silent Disease
In some cases, children with juvenile osteoporosis show no signs of the disease at all. In the case of idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis, early signs may be pain in the hips, lower back, knees, ankles and feet. In severe cases, physical deformities from loss of bone mass may manifest themselves. The spine may become abnormally curved or the chest may become sunken. The child may have difficulty walking, and may even develop a limp. Bones will be more susceptible to fractures.
4. Down to the Bone
Since symptoms are not always prominent, many cases of juvenile osteoporosis may not be detected until the child suffers from a broken bone. A complete family history will be taken. Blood tests will be performed to check levels of calcium and potassium. Noninvasive tests to examine loss of bone density include a CT scan, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and dual photon absorptiometry (the latter two employ the use of two beams, one more absorbed by tissue and the other by bone and a subtraction of the tissue absorption from the bone absorption gives an indication of how much bone mass is lost).
5. Juvenile Osteoporosis Not Necessarily a Life Sentence
Sometimes, no treatment for juvenile osteoporosis is needed, as the condition goes away on its own. If it is linked to another condition or disease, treatment for those underlying causes may be enough to treat the osteoporosis. Simply increasing exercises and maintaining a sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D may be adequate. When it's not, medications called bisphosphonates (which inhibit bone density loss) used to treat adults may be administered.
