| Rickets |
Website Links For Rickets |
Information AboutRickets |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT RICKETS | |
| malnutrition | |
| pediatrics | |
| skeletal disorders | |
Rickets is a softening of the bones in children potentially leading to fractures and deformity. Rickets is among the most frequent childhood diseases in many developing countries. The predominant cause is a Vitamin D deficiency, but lack of adequate Calcium in the diet may also lead to rickets. Although it can occur in adults, the majority of cases occur in children suffering from severe Malnutrition , usually resulting from Famine or Starvation during the early stages of childhood. Osteomalacia is the term used to describe a similar condition occurring in adults, generally due to a deficiency of vitamin D. The word "rickets" comes from the word "rachitis," meaning wrist (and also spine), as wrist deformities are common and obvious in rickets. EPIDEMIOLOGY Those at higher risk for developing rickets include:
Individuals with Red Hair (who also generally have extremely pale skin that burns rather than tans) have a decreased risk for rickets due to their greater production of vitamin D in sunlight. Red hair and genetics ETIOLOGY Vitamin D is required for proper calcium absorption from the gut. In the absence of vitamin D, dietary calcium is not properly absorbed, resulting in Hypocalcemia , leading to skeletal and dental deformities and Neuromuscular symptoms, e.g. hyperexcitability. A rare X-linked Dominant form exists called Vitamin D resistant rickets. PRESENTATION |
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