Rickets is a condition that affects bone development in children caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate.
It leads to softening and weakening of the bones. Vitamin D deficiency makes it difficult for your body to maintain sufficient levels of calcium and phosphate. When this occurs, your body produces hormones that cause calcium and phosphate to be released from your bones. When your bones lack these minerals, they become weak and soft.
People with rickets can have weak and soft bones, stunted growth, and, in severe cases, skeletal deformities.
Rickets is most common in children who are between 6 and 36 months old
SYMPTOMS OF RICKETS INCLUDE:
Bone pain or tenderness in the arms, legs, pelvis, and spine
Decreased muscle tone (loss of muscle strength) and weakness that gets worse
Dental deformities, including delayed tooth formation, defects in the tooth structure, holes in the enamel, and increased cavities (dental caries)
Impaired growth
Increased bone fractures
Muscle cramps
Short stature (adults less than 5 feet tall)
Skeletal deformities such as an odd-shaped skull, bowlegs, bumps in the ribcage (rachitic rosary), breastbone that is pushed forward (pigeon chest), pelvic deformities, and spine deformities (spine that curves abnormally, including scoliosis or kyphosis)
RISK FACTORS
FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE A CHILD’S RISK OF RICKETS INCLUDE:
DARK SKIN.
Dark skin doesn’t react as strongly to sunshine as does lighter skin, so it produces less vitamin D.
MOTHER’S VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY DURING PREGNANCY.
A baby born to a mother with severe vitamin D deficiency can be born with signs of rickets or develop them within a few months after birth.
NORTHERN LATITUDES.
Children who live in geographical locations where there is less sunshine are at higher risk of rickets.
PREMATURE BIRTH.
Babies born before their due dates are more likely to develop rickets.
MEDICATIONS.
Certain types of anti-seizure medications and antiretroviral medications, used to treat HIV infections, appear to interfere with the body’s ability to use vitamin D.
EXCLUSIVE BREAST-FEEDING.
Breast milk doesn’t contain enough vitamin D to prevent rickets. Babies who are exclusively breast-fed should receive vitamin D drops.
COMPLICATIONS
LEFT UNTREATED, RICKETS CAN LEAD TO:
Failure to grow
Abnormally curved spine
Skeletal deformities
Dental defects
Seizures
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Homoeopathy has a great role in the treatment of rickets. Medicines are prescribed after a detailed study of the patient including his mental, physical and genetic makeup. Genetic code determines the characteristic of an individual. Homoeopathy medicine that is prescribed based on this has the ability to act upon the genetic code. Thereby it can boost your immune system and prevent progression of the disease.