Can adults get rickets?

Adults may develop a bone disease called osteomalacia, which is described as the softening and weakening of bones due to severe deficiency in Vitamin D. This can lead to adults getting multiple bone fractures frequently.

How long does my child need to stay in the sunlight to prevent the development of rickets?

Your child must get 10 to 30 minutes of sunlight every day in tropical countries and between 1 to 2 hours in cold countries to lower the risk of developing rickets. Make sure children are exposed to the sun only in the morning and evening hours when the intensity of sunlight is lower. However, dark-skinned kids may not get enough Vitamin D from just sun exposure. Also, due to skin cancer concerns, it is not wise to stay in the sun for long periods (over 60 minutes) on a regular basis.

Which specialist should I take my child to for rickets treatment?

Ideally, a pediatrician should be the first doctor you should visit. If your pediatrician is not available, going to a general physician is the appropriate thing to do. If further treatment is required, then an orthopedic surgeon will be your next point of contact.

Does orange juice help in the prevention of rickets?

Patients should take fortified orange juice to combat Vitamin D deficiency. This has been seen in a study that was conducted to see whether orange juice fortified with Vitamin D had an effect on Vitamin D concentration levels. The results showed an increase in Vitamin D concentration levels. Orange juice comes with its own set of benefits and can help your child’s overall health in the long run.

If your child is lactose intolerant, what are the other food sources for obtaining Vitamin D?

If your child is lactose intolerant, do not worry. Your child can get Vitamin D from other sources such as soy milk, orange juice, mushrooms, meat, and fish. You can also give Vitamin D supplements to prevent or overcome the deficiency.

How long does it take before we can see improvement in the symptoms of rickets?

Exposure to sunlight and consuming food rich in Vitamin D can treat rickets quickly. A study conducted by researchers saw that 47% of the patients had healed completely within three months; by six months, 100% of the patients had healed, showing that rickets is easily treatable if diagnosed quickly.

Can rickets be confused with any other diseases?

Yes. Rickets can be confused with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition that results in the wrong formation of bones, as well as osteomalacia, which is the deficiency of Vitamin D in adults.

Rickets

Written By Dr. Sakshi SharmaBDS

Reviewed By Dr. Varun Gupta

MD Pharmacology, MBBS

Last updated on: 27 Sep 2022 | 06:23 PM (IST)

Also known as Vitamin D-dependent rickets, Phosphopenic rickets, Calcipenic rickets, Acquired rickets and Nutritional rickets

Overview

Rickets is a medical condition commonly seen in children. It is characterized by bowed legs and a curved spine, which causes a lot of pain and discomfort. Depending on the type of rickets your child develops, it can be hereditary (genetic in nature) or acquired (because of low consumption of essential nutrients).

Mainly, a lack of essential nutrients such as Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus have been attributed to the development of rickets. Other factors such as living in cold countries, having dark skin, and genetics can also increase the risk of developing rickets.

Mostly seen in children between the ages of 6 months to 2 years, your child can combat the symptoms of rickets with Vitamin D and calcium supplements and high exposure to sunlight.

Rickets can be prevented by proper exposure to sunlight and having a diet rich in Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. It can also be treated by taking Vitamin D supplements and exposure to sunlight.

Making healthcareUnderstandable, Accessible & AffordableMade with ❤ by Tata 1mg

Overview

Key Facts

Symptoms

Causes

Risk factors

Diagnosis

Celebs affected

Prevention

Specialist to visit

Treatment

Home-care

Complications

Alternatives therapies

Living with

FAQs

References