Can you catch rickets

Get more information on vitamin D and joint pain here. To add vitamin D to the diet, a person can consume :. Making dietary changes and spending some time outside each day can help prevent rickets in most children. If the cause is genetic, a doctor may prescribe phosphate and calcitriol supplements to reduce bowing in the legs.

If there is an underlying medical cause, such as kidney disease, treating it may help prevent rickets. A doctor will diagnose rickets by checking for symptoms such as bowed legs or a soft skull. To confirm a diagnosis, a doctor may recommend :. Blood tests : These look for low levels of calcium and phosphorus and high levels of alkaline phosphatase.

X-rays : These may reveal calcium loss in bones or alterations in the structure or shape of the bones. In this article , learn about osteoporosis , a condition that can affect older people. In most cases, people can prevent rickets by consuming enough vitamin D and getting enough sun exposure. However, it is difficult to say exactly how much vitamin D each individual needs, as it depends on how much sun exposure they have and how much vitamin D their body is able to synthesize in the skin as a result of this.

Children who live in countries with low sun intensity, where there is frequent cloud cover, or where winter days are particularly short may need to take vitamin D supplements to prevent rickets. Rickets can develop if a child has too little vitamin D. It is rare in the U. When increasing the amount of time that a child spends in the sun, it is important to remember that too much sunlight exposure can lead to sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Anyone who has concerns that their child may have a vitamin deficiency should speak with a doctor. They can advise on supplements and sun exposure. Rickets was common in the past, but it mostly disappeared in the western world during the early 20th century after foods like margarine and cereal were fortified with vitamin D.

However, in recent years, there's been an increase in cases of rickets in the UK. The number of rickets cases is still relatively small, but studies have shown a significant number of people in the UK have low levels of vitamin D in their blood.

Any child who doesn't get enough vitamin D or calcium either through their diet, or from sunlight, can develop rickets. But the condition is more common in children with dark skin, as this means they need more sunlight to get enough vitamin D, as well as children born prematurely or taking medication that interferes with vitamin D. For most children, rickets can be successfully treated by ensuring they eat foods that contain calcium and vitamin D, or by taking vitamin supplements.

Some families are eligible for free vitamin supplements from the government's Healthy Start scheme — find out if you're eligible and how to apply. If your child has problems absorbing vitamins and minerals, they may need a higher supplement dose or a yearly vitamin D injection. To make sure your child is getting enough vitamin D, you should feed your older child foods that are high in calcium, such as milk, cheese, and salad greens.

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