Rickets

What is it?

• A condition of the softening and weakening of the bones usually in children 

Main cause

• Children who do not get enough Vitamin D

• Lack of Sunlight:

  • Lack of sunlight prevents the skin from producing vitamin D

  • Skin produces vitamin D when receiving sunlight

  • Sunscreen blocks the sun rays that trigger vitamin D in the skin

• Lack of vitamin D absorption

  • Some children are born with or develop  medical conditions that affect their vitamin D absorption

  • Celiac disease, Inflammatory disease, Cystic fibrosis

Symptoms

• Delayed growth

  • Due to the extended period of reduced vitamin D, the regulation of skeletal homeostasis and linear growth is impaired

  • Causing stunting in growth

• Muscle weakness

  • Low vitamin D levels cause the body to be unable to absorb calcium and phosphorus 

• Bone pain

  • Pain is caused because the bones are soft and weak due to a lack of vitamin D

Dietary/lifestyle choice to prevent

• Exposure to sunlight

  • Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D

  • 10-15 minutes in the sun around midday per day is enough to obtain the vitamin D required

• Food choices

  • Make sure the child eats food containing vitamin D

  • Fatty fish (e.g salmon and mackerel)

  • Egg yolk

  • Vitamin D-fortified foods (cereal, bread, orange juice)

• Vitamin D supplements

  • Vitamin D supplements can be taken in seasons such as autumn and winter when the sun is not strong enough to provide vitamin D

Main treatment

• Physiotherapy

  • Deformities of the bone can be corrected/strengthened through exercise and muscle strengthening

• Diet

  • A good healthy diet with an increase of egg, milk, fish, cheese etc

• Supplements

  • Doctors can prescribe vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus supplements