Living with Rickets
A condition in children that causes soft, weak bones, usually when they do not get enough vitamin D.
Understanding Rickets
It usually occurs when children do not get enough vitamin D. Vitamin D helps growing bones absorb important nutrients. Vitamin D comes from sunlight and food. Skin makes it in response to the sun, and some foods contain it, including fortified dairy products and cereals and some kinds of fish.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. Its summary describes soft, weak bones in children.
- Soft, weak bones
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Little People of America may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Little People of America
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Little People of America
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
It usually occurs when children do not get enough vitamin D. GARD does not list a gene or inheritance pattern.
Also known as: hypovitaminosis d; nutritional rickets; rachitis; rickets (disease); vitamin d deficiency disease; vitamin d hydroxylation-deficient rickets
Patient organizations
- Little People of AmericaRickets · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Rickets.
Explore research for Rickets
Explore actively recruiting Rickets studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Rickets with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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