rickets
Sign in to saveRickets (scientific nomenclature: rachitis; from Greek , meaning "in or of the spine" which was chosen as a back-formation, see Etymology) is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children and may have either dietary-deficiency or genetic causes. Symptoms include bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping. Complications may include bone deformities, bone pseudofractures and fractures, muscle spasms, or an abnormally curved spine. The analogous condition in adults is osteomalacia.
AI overview
Rickets is a childhood condition that weakens or softens bones, stemming from either dietary deficiencies or genetic factors, and causes symptoms like bowed legs, stunted growth, and bone pain. It matters because it can lead to serious complications including bone deformities, fractures, and spine curvature if left untreated.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Rickets
- Medical condition.image
- XrayRicketsLegssmall.jpg
- Medical condition.caption
- X-ray of a two-year-old with rickets, demonstrating a marked bowing of the femurs and decreased bone density
- Medical condition.field
- Pediatrics, rheumatology, dietetics
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, trouble sleeping
- Medical condition.complications
- Bone fractures, muscle spasms, abnormally curved spine, intellectual disability
- Medical condition.onset
- Childhood
- Medical condition.causes
- Diet without enough vitamin D or calcium, too little sun exposure, exclusive breastfeeding without supplementation, celiac disease, certain genetic conditions
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- Blood tests, X-rays
- Medical condition.differential
- Fanconi syndrome, scurvy, Lowe syndrome, osteomalacia
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Cause
- Sunlight
- Skin color theory
- Diagnosis
- Types
- Differential diagnosis
- Treatment
- Diet and sunlight
- Supplementation
- Surgery
- Epidemiology
- History
- Etymology
- See also
- References
- External links
Rickets (scientific nomenclature: rachitis; from Greek , meaning "in or of the spine" which was chosen as a back-formation, see Etymology) is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children and may have either dietary-deficiency or genetic causes. Symptoms include bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping. Complications may include bone deformities, bone pseudofractures and fractures, muscle spasms, or an abnormally curved spine. The analogous condition in adults is osteomalacia.
One can characterise a child who appears to suffer from rickets as rachitic.