Rickets

Rickets is a rare disease that affects bone development in children. It causes the softening and weakening of bones, which can lead to deformities, such as bowed legs and curvature of the spine.

Rickets in adults is known as osteomalacia (soft bones).

The most common cause of rickets is a lack of vitamin D or calcium in the diet. These minerals are essential for a child to form strong healthy bones. Less commonly, children can be born with genetic forms of rickets or develop rickets if underlying conditions affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals (see Causes).

For most children, additional vitamin and mineral supplements can usually treat rickets successfully.

How common is rickets?

Rickets was common during Victorian times but mostly disappeared in the western world during the 1940s, thanks to the fortification of vitamin D in everyday foods such as margarine and cereal.

There has been a reported increase in cases of rickets in the UK in recent years. Children from Asian, African Caribbean and Middle Eastern origin are at higher risk because their skin is darker and they need more sunlight to get enough vitamin D.

Other risk groups include children who were born early (prematurely) and those on certain medicines that interfere with vitamin D. However, any child whose diet does not have enough vitamin D or calcium can develop rickets.