Question 1

are there any kids with rickets in the u.s. nowadays?

Accepted Answer

Hard to find: Rickets requires a deficiency of vitamin D to extremely low levels.  The usual RDA of 400 u per is designed to totally prevent this condition and vit D is usually added to milk.  I imagine there are a few kids somewhere in the USA with extreme diets (enforced by well meaning parents) or with severe malabsorption problems who might have the condition.  But I have not heard of them yet.

Question 2

what is  rickets disease?

Accepted Answer

A bone growth prob.: Rickets refers to deficient mineralization of the growth plates of bone.  It can be predominantly related to either deficiency of calcium or phosphorus.  It is commonly treated with adequate nutrition and vitamin d therapy.

Question 3

why did kids use to get rickets?

Accepted Answer

They still do: Rickets is a metabolic bone disease of children which is usually the result of severe vitamin d deficiency, but can also have other causes. Vitamin d deficiency remains common, particularly with spending more time indoors and using sunscreen (which is necessary because skin damage from the sun can cause skin cancers). Please see your child's doctor for relatively new vitamin d recommendations.

Question 4

what are the symptoms of rickets?

Accepted Answer

Bone pain, weakness: Rickets is a weakening of the bones due to a deficiency of vitamin d and/or calcium. Symptoms include bone pain, which in an infant may present as fussiness. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, bowing of the legs, muscle spasms, and poor growth. The american academy of pediatrics recommends all infants receive 400 iu of vitamin d daily to prevent rickets. Sun exposure also helps.

Question 5

who do you see to diagnose rickets??

Accepted Answer

Your family doctor: Your primary care doctor has truing to diagnose and treat Rickets, ,although rare at 21 .

Question 6

how do you know if you have. rickets?

Accepted Answer

Can't miss it: Exclusively seen in young children, rickets occurs for different reasons, but most commonly in this country - vitamin d deficiency. Bones faily to properly mineralize so legs may become bowed as bones soft. The toddler might have leg pain and refuse to walk. The soft spot on top of the head of a baby may not close on time. Rickets are easily identified on long bone x-rays and through blood tests.

Question 7

when are at risk of developing rickets?

Accepted Answer

Most cases in kids: Rickets is a softening of the bones caused most often by vitamin d deficiency, but calcium deficiency can also be a cause. Most cases occur in children often in the setting of malnutrition. Lack of sunlight exposure has lead to an increase in incidence of rickets. The term for the adult form is osteomalacia.

Question 8

anyone over the age of 18 with rickets?

Accepted Answer

No: Rickets is found primarily in young children and cannot occur in older kids and adults who are done growing.  Osteomalacia is the term which would be used for older kids and adults. There are distinctly different bone findings in young children with rickets.

Question 9

what are the signs and symptome of rickets?

Accepted Answer

Multiple symptoms: May include the following:  leg, spine and/or hip pain, poor growth, bowed legs, protruding breast bone, muscle pain, delayed walking or refusal to walk, thickened wrists/ankles, bumps along the ribs.

Question 10

where is the common setting to contract rickets?

Accepted Answer

Low Vit D: Vitamin d or calcium deficiency can lead to rickets. These days rickets is most often seen in the setting of childhood malnutrition. Risk factors include being black (blacks require more sunlight to synthesize the proper form of vit d) and being breastfed. Other environments where it can be seen is countries where food is not supplemented with vit d and in those with very low sunlight exposure.

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Doctor answers about:

Rickets

A member asked:

Are there any kids with rickets in the u.s. nowadays?

A member asked:

What is rickets disease?

A member asked:

Why did kids use to get rickets?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of rickets?

A member asked:

Who do you see to diagnose rickets??

A member asked:

How do you know if you have. rickets?

A member asked:

When are at risk of developing rickets?

A member asked:

Anyone over the age of 18 with rickets?

A member asked:

What are the signs and symptome of rickets?

A member asked:

Where is the common setting to contract rickets?

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