Adults can experience a similar condition, which is known as osteomalacia or soft bones. Read more about the signs and symptoms of rickets and osteomalacia. A lack of vitamin D or calcium is the most common cause of rickets. Vitamin D largely comes from exposing the skin to sunlight, but it's also found in some foods, such as oily fish and eggs. Vitamin D is essential for the formation of strong and healthy bones in children.
In rare cases, children can be born with a genetic form of rickets. It can also develop if another condition affects how vitamins and minerals are absorbed by the body. Read more about the causes of rickets. The resulting symptoms can persist into adulthood.
A severe vitamin D deficiency in adulthood can lead to osteomalacia, which is similar to rickets. A vitamin D deficiency may result from a low dietary intake of vitamin D or low exposure to or absorption of ultraviolet UV rays. This means that children who spend a lot of time indoors may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency and rickets. Taking vitamin D supplements may help protect those at risk.
This article will outline the symptoms, causes, and treatments associated with rickets, as well as how best to prevent it. Some signs and symptoms of rickets may include the following:. In the short-term, severely low calcium levels in the blood can lead to cramps, seizures, and breathing problems. In severe cases, untreated, long-term nutritional rickets can increase the risk of:. The human body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium from the intestines.
UV rays from sunlight help the skin cells convert a precursor of vitamin D from an inactive to an active state. If a person does not make or consume enough vitamin D, their body may not absorb sufficient calcium from the food they eat, causing low levels of calcium in the blood. Low calcium levels result in irregularities of the bones and teeth, as well as nerve and muscle problems.
Children may lack vitamin D if they:. According to the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend vitamin D supplements of international units IU 10 micrograms [mcg] for infants who are wholly or partially breastfed.
Formula milk tends to be fortified with vitamin D. Learn more about vitamin D here. Some types of rickets result from a genetic condition. It's very unusual to get side effects from vitamin D, calcium or phosphate supplements if they're given in the correct dose.
Your doctor will advise you about how much supplement is needed, for how long, and the monitoring of treatment. If the vitamin D or calcium dose is too high or the treatment is continued for too long or isn't carefully monitored, it can raise calcium levels in the blood.
This can result in a condition called hypercalcaemia. If you have osteomalacia — the adult form of rickets that causes soft bones — treatment with supplements will usually cure the condition.
However, it may be several months before any bone pain and muscle weakness is relieved. You child will have:. If my child has bow legs, will they straighten up once she is getting more vitamin D? Usually, within three months of treatment, an improvement in bone health and shape are visible on X-rays. With medical treatment alone, most bow legs improve dramatically and surgery is not necessary. If there is insufficient straightening, your child will be referred to a bone specialist orthopaedic surgeon for review.
If my child has rickets are they likely to have bone problems later in life? Your child should be monitored closely to make sure they continue to have good vitamin D, calcium and phosphate levels. Once the bone abnormalities are corrected in childhood, your child is not likely to have bone problems later in life.
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