"Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones in children, usually because of an extreme and prolonged vitamin D deficiency." - Mayo Clinic
Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency:
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Painful bones, muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms
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Increased risk of breaking bones; breaks that occur without pressure or trauma
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Teeth failing to form or are slow to emerge through gums; deformed teeth or soft tooth enamel
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A prominent forehead and a large soft spot in infants (fontanelle)
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Bowed legs, "hunch-back" (kyphosis), sideway curves of the spine (scoliosis), outward jutting breastbone or abnormal skull shape
For more information and resources:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD HealthProfessional/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000344.htm
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/
Contributing causes and risk factors for rickets:
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Not having enough exposure to the sunlight
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Children with naturally dark skin tend to absorb less sunlight than lighter skinned children
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Not having enough vitamin D or calcium in the diet
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Women who are also vitamin D deficient whom exclusively breastfeed their infant
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Certain disorders of the liver, intestine, or kidneys that prevent vitamin D from being absorbed or turning into its active form in the body
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Disorders that cause malabsorption of fat in the body ( vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin)