The lack of vitamin D in your body could be the cause of you having Rickets. It is categorized as a childhood disease as it impacts children. This condition causes their bones to bend and break more easily. In some rare cases, rickets is also caused by genetic disorders. The importance of vitamin D in your body is extremely important, as it is responsible for helping the child absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. If not consumed, the bones may become fragile and bent.
The generic advice would be to add vitamin D and calcium to your meals so you do not face the consequences of rickets. If the child has one more condition or disease with rickets, they may need medications or other treatments. There may also be skeletal deformities as a result of rickets, which can be further corrected through surgery.
Rickets is not similar to osteomalacia affecting adults. In fact, the differentiating factor between the two is that rickets affect children’s bones that are in the process of growth and development. Adult bones, however, are already grown and do not share the same symptoms with rickets unless they had it as a child.
What are the Symptoms of Rickets?
The symptoms of rickets may include:
- Bowing of leg bones.
- A widening of knees (in children who can walk) or wrists (in infants who are capable of crawling).
- Bone pain.
- Swelling of the ends of ribs, referred to as rachitic rosary (pronounced “ra-kit-ic”) due to the appearance of the rib ends resembling rosary beads beneath the skin.
- Pigeon chest (where the breastbone protrudes outward or upward).
- Delays in growth.
- Unusual curvature of the spine or abnormal shape of the skull.
- Dental issues, such as cavities.
- Seizures (in severe instances when calcium levels are dangerously low).
What Causes Rickets?
The simple answer is vitamin D. It is the main agent responsible for absorbing calcium and phosphorus from food. If the body is unable to receive the right quantities of vitamin D or calcium or has difficulty using vitamin D, it may have Rickets. Sometimes not receiving adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D may also cause rickets.
Vitamin D is usually sourced from food or natural sunlight. The children who face a deficiency in Vitamin D need to spend sufficient time in the sun. They may also consume foods containing fish oil, egg yolks, and fatty foods, including salmon and mackerel, which are high in vitamin D. You may also find added Vitamin D in milk, cereal, and fruit juices.
The child may face absorption issues in Vitamin D if they are born with any medical disorder such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, or kidney problems that impact their bodily functioning.
What are the Risk Factors of Rickets?
Several factors may make you prone to rickets. They include:
- Dark skin: Dark skin contains a higher concentration of the pigment melanin, which reduces the skin’s capacity to generate vitamin D from sunlight.
- Mother’s Vitamin D Deficiency during Pregnancy: An infant born to a mother suffering from significant vitamin D deficiency may exhibit symptoms of rickets at birth or develop them within a few months after delivery.
- Northern latitudes: Children residing in areas with limited sunlight are more vulnerable to the risk of rickets.
- Premature birth: Infants delivered before their expected dates generally have lower vitamin D levels due to insufficient time to obtain the vitamin from their mothers while in the womb.
- Medications: Certain types of anti-seizure drugs and antiretroviral medications, used in the treatment of HIV infections, seem to disrupt the body’s ability to utilize vitamin D.
- Exclusive breast-feeding: Breast milk lacks sufficient vitamin D to avert rickets. Infants who are exclusively breastfed should be given vitamin D supplements.
How Does Rickets Impact the Growth and Development of a Child?
Rickets cause the bones to go weak, turning them fragile and bendy.
Deformities in Bone: In the legs, arms, and spine, it may cause the weight of the body to make the bones bend and deform. This may also lead to bowed legs, knockknees, and a pigeon-like chest.
Slow Growth: Rickets may delay normal bone development, resulting in stunted growth and smaller stature.
Problems in Skeletal Structure: Your weak bones are always at risk for fractures. In extreme cases, rickets may also impact the skull, bringing about slow closure of the soft spots or the fontanels and a differently shaped head.
In conclusion, rickets can have a major effect on a child’s growth and development, resulting in physical disadvantages and health issues.
It’s important to talk to a doctor if you feel that you have or your child has rickets. It is important to remember that early diagnosis and treatment are essential for managing the symptoms of rickets and reducing long-term complications.
