Rickets: childhood bone disorder

Rickets is a disease of the growing child and remains a common problem in many parts of the world.

The disease is characterized by defective calcification of the bony tissue in the growing skeleton which leads to a disturbance of endochondral ossification.

Privational or nutritional rickets arises from chronic dietary calcium deficiency, vitamins D deficiency or combination of both factors. Other causes including the failure of the renal tubules to function properly, and disturbances of intestinal resorption (or hypophatasia).

Nutritional rickets results from inadequate sunlight exposure or inadequate intake of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate. Nutritional rickets occurs primarily in undeveloped areas of the world and among immigrants to developed countries.

In severe childhood rickets, growth is impaired and height is general below the third quartile.

Children with rickets may also have a gentle thoracic kyphosis (or rachitic cat back) and a rachitic potbelly, which together with the bowed extremities and apathetic facies emphasize their Buddha-like appearance.
Rickets: childhood bone disorder