Rickets

Rickets is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children.
Symptoms include

1. bowed legs, 
2. stunted growth, 
3. bone pain, 
4. large forehead, and 
5. trouble sleeping.

Complications may include

1. bone fractures, 
2. muscle spasms, 
3. an abnormally curved spine, or 
4. intellectual disability.

The most common cause is vitamin D deficiency. This can result from:

1. eating a diet without enough vitamin D, 
2. dark skin, 
3. too little sun exposure, 
4. exclusive breastfeeding without vitamin D supplementation, 
5. celiac disease, and 
6. certain genetic conditions.
7. Other factors may include not enough calcium or phosphorus.

The underlying mechanism involves insufficient calcification of the growth plate.
Diagnosis is generally based on blood tests finding a low calcium, low phosphorus, and a high alkaline phosphatase together with X-rays.

• Prevention includes vitamin D supplements for exclusively breastfed babies. 
• Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If due to a lack of vitamin D, treatment is usually with vitamin D and calcium. This generally results in improvements within a few weeks.
• Bone deformities may also improve over time. Surgery may be done to fix bone deformities.
• Genetic forms of the disease require specialized treatment.

Rickets occurs relatively commonly in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.It begins in childhood, between the ages of 3 and 18 months old. Rates of disease are equal in males and females. Early treatments included the use of cod liver oil.