Rickets, also known as Nutritional Rickets, is a condition that typically affects young children worldwide. It is defined as a condition where the children's bones do not grow strong and become soft due to a lack of Calcium & Phosphorous. Although Rickets may be caused due to metabolic and genetic reasons, the most common reason for this condition is the lack of Vitamin D.
According to The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), in 2021, they saw about 12 cases of Rickets a month, in August 2021. This was 300% from the previous year, and most of the patients were in the age group of 2-12yrs – in fact, some of them even belonged to well-to-do families. For children from well-off families, doctors emphasize that vitamin D deficiency is due to a prolonged indoor stay and a lack of sun exposure, not malnutrition. In this article, we will answer nine important questions about Rickets and their symptoms to build awareness about the condition.
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble Secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of Calcium, Magnesium, & Phosphate in the human body and has many other benefits. It can be obtained by eating certain fatty fish and fish oils. The human body produces Vitamin D due to sun exposure, which is why every person needs to step out into the sun for a few hours every day. Vitamin D has multiple roles in the body as it assists in the following tasks:
Promotes healthy bones and teeth
Supports immune, brain, and nervous system health
Regulates Insulin levels and helps to manage Diabetes
Supports lung function and cardiovascular health
Influences the expression of genes involved in cancer development
Rickets generally develops in children, and some risk factors involve the following:
Bending or 'bowing' of the bones in the legs is the most classic symptom of Rickets. This happens because the bones do not have enough strength due to a lack of minerals. In cases where the Rickets is more serious, swelling at the ends of the ribs is also possible, and seizures can develop due to a lack of Calcium in the blood.
A specialized expert or doctor can diagnose Rickets through a series of physical exams, X-rays, and blood tests which will show low levels of Phosphorus. These tests can also show normal or low Calcium with an elevated level of an enzyme called Alkaline Phosphatase, which is another sign of Rickets.
Children with Rickets can recover once the vitamin D, Calcium, and Phosphate levels are rectified in their bodies. Most of these children will see an improvement in their condition within the first week of the treatment. However, children who have Rickets must be diagnosed in a timely manner because the condition is curable if identified at an early stage. Skeletal deformities can become permanent if the disorder is neglected, hence parents must be made aware of the symptoms so that corrective action can be taken on time if the condition develops in the child.
The best way to prevent Rickets is to eat a diet that includes adequate amounts of Calcium, Phosphorous, and vitamin D. To maintain healthy blood levels, every person must get 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight several times per week. When exposing a child younger than 3yrs to sunlight, it is best to consult a Pediatrician for optimum results. Also, remember that too much sunlight can damage the skin, so if a person is in the sun for a long, they must always apply sunscreen.
Since COVID-19 impacted outdoor movement, many children were forced to stay indoors. Earlier everyone believed that Rickets was caused due to malnutrition, but recent cases have come to light, where the cause is a lack of vitamin D due to low sunlight exposure. Due to COVID-19, many children faced a lack of exposure to sunlight as their outdoor play hours were drastically impacted. Now that restrictions have been lifted, children must spend quality time playing outside, so their overall well-being and health are not affected, especially in the long term.
