I'm no doctor, but as I understand the nature of the disease, it is caused by a severe vitamin deficiency (Vitamin D) which is essential for the body to absorb calcium which is needed for healthy bones. Women who are malnourished while pregnant and give birth to deficient infants, or infants who have insufficient nourishment and vitamins early on, do not grow strong healthy bones which can bear weight-the bones are soft. The result is deformed-looking limbs (and sometimes even teeth are affected)- knockknees, bowlegs, pigeontoes, and may include muscle pain and enlargement of the spleen and liver. Rickets is much less common today than it used to be but there are plenty of cases in all areas of the world where there are poor and disadvantaged. Rickets and the resulting severely bowedlegs are almost always improved by adding vitamin D and calcium to the diet early on after diagnosis. Some types of rickets, however, are due to a genetic condition, and may need more specialized treatment by an endocrinologist. New research shows that some North American infants are not receiving enough dietary calcium and, as a result, are developing rickets. Also critical is the natural Vitamin D found in exposure to sunlight. Recent trends indicate that the fluid intake of children, (once predominantly milk), increasingly consists of soda and fruit juices. Since milk is an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D for children, this trend could be contributing to the high incidence of rickets. So, too much apple juice and Coca-Cola and not enough cow juice! Yes, the symptoms of rickets are HIGHLY visible on the outside, and pitiful to see.
