INFORMATION ON  RICKETS

Rickets is caused by lack of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate; it is a childhood disorder which involves softening and weakening of the bones.

CAUSES OF RICKETS

Vitamin D acts as a hormone to control calcium absorption from the intestine and to control levels of calcium and phosphate in the bones or it can be produce by the skin when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Deficiency of vitamin D creation by the skin may occur if a person is restricted inside, or works inside during the daytime hours, or habitual of the climates with little exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which reduce digestion or absorption of fats so it may decrease the ability of vitamin D to be absorbed from the intestines. When there is lack of vitamin D, so calcium and phosphate levels are not regulated properly.

Rickets is a disease of bones that affects children when these insufficiencies occur. It is due to progressive softening and weakening of the bones' structure. There is a great loss of calcium and phosphate from the bones, which ultimately causes destruction of the supportive medium.
It is most possible to occur during periods of fast growth, when the body requires high levels of calcium and phosphate. Rickets are found in young children of 6 to 24 months old and is rare in newborns. Rarely, it may also affect children who have disorders of the liver, do not sufficiently absorb fats and vitamin D, or cannot change vitamin D to its lively form.
 
SYMPTOMS OF RICKETS

The main symptoms of rickets are bone pain like arms, legs, spine and pelvis and certain skeletal deformities like bowlegs, bumps in the rib cage, pelvic deformities, Dental deformities like defects in the structure of teeth, small holes in the enamel and sometimes delayed formation of teeth and more chances of bone fracture.

TREATMENT OF RICKETS

The main treatment is to relieve symptoms and solve the cause of the condition. The substitute of deficient calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D will eliminate most sign of rickets. Dietary basis of vitamin D include fish, processed milk and liver. Exposure to moderate amounts of sunlight is advisable