Ridding The Body of Rickets

Your 14-month old son has an unusual walk. He fell down at the playground and he refuses to walk or crawl. He might have rickets.

Rickets is a deformity of the bones caused by too little vitamin D in the diet and limited sun exposure. The disease affects 1 in 200,000 children.

Symptoms of this condition include bone tenderness, swollen joints, muscle cramps or fractures. Often, patients with rickets have bowed legs and stunted growth.

There are two types of rickets: nutritional and inherited rickets. With nutritional rickets there is insufficient exposure to sunlight (which prompts the body to make its own vitamin D) and lack of vitamin D in the diet (this can happen with vegetarian and vegan diets, lactose intolerance and conditions that limit how much vitamin D is absorbed like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease). In addition, diets low in calcium also fall under nutritional rickets.

Inherited rickets is when genetic diseases interfere with the body’s ability to absorb vitamin D. Other genetic conditions may affect how your body handles phosphorus and can cause rickets. But these disorders are rare.

Breastfeeding babies who don’t supplement vitamin D are at increased risk of developing the disorder. Along with dark-skinned children as well as those children who spend little time outdoors.

There are several ways to diagnose rickets. If your health provider suspects that you may have the condition based on a physical exam, she might order tests like X-rays, blood tests, urine tests, bone biopsy (rarely done) and genetic tests (for inherited rickets).

Most cases of rickets can be cured if caught early. This may involve:                                                                                

·       Dietary changes. This usually means high doses of vitamin D through supplementation or diet. These doses may be given over several months depending on the severity of the case. Eventually the doses can be the standard vitamin D supplements.

·       Sunlight. Your body can naturally make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. So that means some time spent in the great outdoors.

·       Surgery. Usually your child’s bones will straighten out on their own. But for severe cases the child will have to wear braces. Another option is surgery.

For inherited rickets, there are several treatment options available depending on the genetic disorder. Your pediatrician may refer you to a specialist to find the option that works best for your child.

It is important to address rickets as early as possible. Otherwise your child may suffer from complications such as seizures, heart damage and even death.

Rickets can be prevented starting from pregnancy. Pregnant women should take at least 600 IUs of vitamin D every day. All breastfed infants should get 400 IUs of vitamin D daily.

Older children should spend time outside and indulging in vitamin D rich foods like sockeye salmon. They can also consume fortified foods such as milk, orange juice and cereal.

In terms of inheritable diseases that cause rickets, this isn’t preventable but early testing and diagnosis are helpful in learning to manage the disease.

Nutritional rickets can be treated in weeks or months, depending on the severity of the case. Most symptoms like weakness or pain can improve in weeks. The vitamin D deficiency should improve within six to eight weeks. If your child has bowing or bending in his bones, it should repair on its own but it may require braces or surgery.

For inherited rickets, vitamin D deficiency can be treated, but the disease that causes it is a lifelong condition.

Children with nutritional rickets can be healed in weeks or months. They can recover completely and become healthy adults. Children with inherited rickets can recover too but it is based on the genetic condition that caused the illness in the first place.

Most children with rickets can be cured. If you suspect your child may have rickets, consult your health provider as soon as possible.