There are many bone disorders that affect infants. Some, such as rickets, are preventable. Genetic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, however, are not. Symptoms of some bone disorders are obvious at birth; others develop over time, or occur suddenly as a result of infection. Diagnosing and treating any bone disorder in an infant is essential to reduce long-term damage to the bones.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, is a congenital disease that is usually, but not always, inherited. OI is caused by a decrease in the amount or quality of collagen in the connective tissue; collagen is an important part of the structure of bone. There are four types of OI, with type I being the mildest and most common form. Around 10 percent of infants with OI are type II, the most severe form and one that usually results in death at or before birth. Type II affects an estimated 20 percent of infants with the disease and is associated with multiple fractures; type IV is more severe than type I, but not as severe as type III. Between 20,000 and 50,000 people in the U.S. have some form of OI. Symptoms of OI in infancy include a history of fractures, which may occur even before birth, short stature, brittle teeth, a triangular shaped face, and whites of the eyes that appear more blue or gray, according to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Rickets
Infants with rickets, also known as osteomalacia, have bones that are softer than normal because they lack calcium. Rickets is caused by lack of vitamin D in the diet or poor absorption of the vitamin; vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption into the bones. Rickets is more common in exclusively breast-fed infants because breast milk does not contain adequate amounts of vitamin D. Vitamin D can be manufactured in the skin from sunlight. Infants with dark skin, who absorb less sunlight, or who live in areas with little sunlight ,are more likely to have rickets. Children with rickets have bone deformities such as scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, and pigeon chest, a deformity of the breast bone. They have an increased risk of fractures and tooth defects. Treatment for rickets is vitamin D or calcium supplementation. If the problem isn't corrected in infancy, deformities can be permanent, the University of Maryland Medical Center states.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is an infection in the bone tissue. Infants are more prone to developing this type of infection in the long bones of the arm and leg, usually after an infection has developed elsewhere and spread to the bone via the bloodstream. Osteomyelitis causes fever, pain, redness, swelling and tenderness at the infection site, and difficulty moving the affected area. Infants may be irritable and appear sick. Osteomyelitis requires intravenous antibiotic therapy, usually over a period of weeks. Surgery may be required in some cases to drain or removed damaged tissue. After-effects of osteomyelitis include possible fractures in the weakened area, gangrene or tissue death, and shortened stature if the growth plate was affected, according to the University of Virginia Health System.
