A growth plate is the area of growing tissue near the end of the long bones. Calcium and phosphorus attach to them so they can build strong, hard bone. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. Without enough vitamin D, the body can't keep enough calcium and phosphorus in the growth plates. Bones stay soft and weak, and can bend or have an odd shape. Less often, kids can develop rickets from other health conditions, like inflammatory bowel disease IBD or kidney problems.
Treatment for rickets helps makes bones stronger. Doctors prescribe supplements to replace the missing vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. Kids with a bone deformity might need braces to reposition the bones as they grow.
In severe cases, a child may need surgery. The time to build strong bones is when we're kids and teens. What are the symptoms of rickets? How can I tell if my child has rickets? How is rickets treated? How can I keep my child from getting nutritional rickets? Where can I get more information? Your doctor. Read the full article. Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere.
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Navigate this Article. Hypocalcaemic and hypophosphatemic rickets. Carpenter T. Overview of rickets in children. Accessed March 19, Etiology and treatment of calcipenic rickets in children. Misra M. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in children and adolescents. Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements. Accessed March 22, Shaw NJ. Prevention and treatment of nutritional rickets. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Horan MP, et al. The role of vitamin D in pediatric orthopedics. The Orthopedic Clinics of North America. Get some tips on how to strengthen the bones naturally here. Depending on the underlying cause, a doctor will usually prescribe vitamin D supplements. Get more information on vitamin D and joint pain here. To add vitamin D to the diet, a person can consume :. Making dietary changes and spending some time outside each day can help prevent rickets in most children.
If the cause is genetic, a doctor may prescribe phosphate and calcitriol supplements to reduce bowing in the legs. If there is an underlying medical cause, such as kidney disease, treating it may help prevent rickets. A doctor will diagnose rickets by checking for symptoms such as bowed legs or a soft skull. To confirm a diagnosis, a doctor may recommend :.
Blood tests : These look for low levels of calcium and phosphorus and high levels of alkaline phosphatase. X-rays : These may reveal calcium loss in bones or alterations in the structure or shape of the bones. In this article , learn about osteoporosis , a condition that can affect older people.
In most cases, people can prevent rickets by consuming enough vitamin D and getting enough sun exposure. However, it is difficult to say exactly how much vitamin D each individual needs, as it depends on how much sun exposure they have and how much vitamin D their body is able to synthesize in the skin as a result of this.
Children who live in countries with low sun intensity, where there is frequent cloud cover, or where winter days are particularly short may need to take vitamin D supplements to prevent rickets. Rickets can develop if a child has too little vitamin D. It is rare in the U. When increasing the amount of time that a child spends in the sun, it is important to remember that too much sunlight exposure can lead to sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer.
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