Introduction
Rickets is a disease that affects individuals during their childhood. Bones become too soft, making them to warp, bend and break more easily. This syndrome in children is characterized by enlargement of the growth plate and bone deformity.
Rickets is a disorder causing mineralization defect and bone and skeletal fragility, although production of bone matrix proteins and their architecture is not impaired.
Rickets is quite different from osteomalacia that occurs in later stages of life-adulthood.
Rickets is less commonly called rachitis.
Risk Factors
- Polar latitudes- these geographical areas receive less sunlight. Children living in such areas are at higher risks of developing rickets.
- Medications such as ARVs, anti-retroviral drugs for managing HIV/AIDS can interfere with body’s ability to utilize vitamin D
- Exclusive breast-feeding- mother’s breast milk does not carry sufficient vitamin D to prevent rickets from manifesting. Therefore, babies who are fed on breast milk exclusively should receive vitamin D supplements in form of drops
- Premature babies. They have low levels of vitamin D
- Dark skins contain more melanin, therefore they take much more time to absorb sun light rays needed to create the required quantity of vitamin D.
- Children under 1yr of age who are depended on their mothers for sunlight exposure
but are kept indoors. - Teenage pregnancy and poor child spacing may exhaust maternal vitamin stores.
- Ignorance on exposure to sunlight and maternal education.
Individuals at risk include;
- Premature babies
- Newborns and infants feeding on exclusive breast milk
- Dark skinned children
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of rickets include;
- Pain in the bones
- Pigeon chest- the breast bone presses outward or upward
- Delayed growth
- Spine curls
- Teeth problems
- Seizures due to low calcium levels
- Knee widening in children
- Bowing of the leg bones
Causes
- The most common causes of hypocalcemia rickets is vitamin D deficiency in diet( particularly in vegetarians ). Children who do not acquire sufficient vitamin D from sunlight and food can develop Vitamin D deficiency.
- Resistance to the action of vitamin D.
- Lack of sunlight prevents formation of D3
- Gastrointestinal disturbance-sprue, malabsorption, chronic diarrhea, pancreatitis, hepatic disorders, obstruction jaundice, may lead to poor absorption of fat soluble vitamins from the gut and hence vitamin D deficiency results
- Genetic rickets- It is also referred to as inherited rickets. Various genetic disorders can interfere with the body’s mechanisms to absorb vitamin D therefore predisposing an individual to development of rickets.
Diagnosis & Tests
There are several methods and tests for diagnosing rickets.
A paediatrician who suspects rickets in a child can order for one or more of the following tests. These include;
- Radiography- Radiographic features include; Indistinct margins of the metaphysis. This is referred to as fraying. Another feature is concavity of metaphysis- Cupping and
Widening of metaphyseal ends- Splaying - X-rays
- Urine testing
- Blood testing
- Biopsies of the bone
- Genetic testing for inherited rickets
Management, Treatment & Prophylaxis
Treatment;
- Surgery- to straighten out bones. This is not done for all cases.
- Exposure to sunlight to rays to enable the body to naturally form vitamin D
- Dietary intake of foods containing vitamin D. For example fish oil, egg yolks, fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel. Visiting a nutritionist can be significant as they will help formulate a good nutrition plan.
Prophylaxis is all about preventing rickets from manifesting. Prophylactic steps include;∙ Infants who are breastfeeding and those on unfortified formula milk, should be
- supplemented with 400 international units per day.
- Educating mothers on proper nutrition.
- Improving standards of living- Enough intake of foods such as fish oil, egg yolks, fatty fish for example salmon and mackerel
- 7-14hrs of sunlight exposure per week. Bask in the sun at least 1 hour per day. Ensure to expose most of your skin so as to get sun rays absorbed.
This really answered my problem, thanks!
Welcome many more times. Enjoy reading our blogs. Your health is our priority.
I see something genuinely special in this internet site.
I want looking through and I believe this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it! .
Sure! I designed this to help all people, especially those that are not medically-oriented have a glimpse on how to improve their health and also learn about diseases in simple language.