Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 21 : Vitamin D

Rrickets in children

• It is characterized by impeded growth, and deformity, of the long bones.
• The earliest bony lesion is often craniotabes –small round unossified areas in the membranous bones of the skull.
• Another early sign is the ‘Beading’ at the costochondal junctions of the ribs, known as ‘Rickety rosary’.
• Other features are ‘Bossing’ of the frontal and parietal bones and delayed closure of the anterior fontanelle and deformities of the chest known as ‘pigeon chest’ in which there is undue prominence of the sternum. Due to non-deposition of calcium salts the bones are soft and are easily bent by the weight of the body.
• If rickets continue during the second and third year of life, serious bone deformities, such as bow legs, knock knees and deformities of the spine and pelvis develop. There is extension and widening of the epiphyses at the growing points.