Both osteomalacia and rickets are bone diseases affecting different age groups [1]. A brief description of both diseases is given below.

 

OSTEOMALACIA:

What is Osteomalacia?

Osteomalacia is a nutritional disorder of bones. Also known as soft bones, it is a disorder that mostly affects adults. It occurs due to severe vitamin D deficiency. Bones soften with time and get easily fractured [2].

 

What Causes Osteomalacia?

Vitamin D deficiency along with various other conditions can lead to osteomalacia. Following are the common causes of this disease:

• Vitamin D deficiency
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disease
• Celiac disease
• Gasterectomy
• Some drugs impair vitamin D absorption

 

What are the Symptoms of Soft Bones?

Initially, symptoms of this bone disease are not manifested. Some signs might appear at the beginning of the disease which are visible in the X-ray films. As the disease progresses, symptoms start appearing. Following are some common symptoms of osteomalacia [2, 3]:

• Bones and joints pain
• Weakness and muscle cramping especially after physical activity
• Pins and needles in the sole of feet and palms of hands due to calcium deficiency (as vitamin D deficiency also leads to calcium deficiency)
• Difficulty in walking and a change in your gait
• Easy and frequent bone fractures

 

 

Treatment of Osteomalacia:

Treatment options are available which could reverse the bone changes but getting rid of bone, joint, and muscle pains might take several months. Following are the options available:

• Taking vitamin D supplements daily increases the level of this vitamin in your body.
• Calcium supplements can also speed up the process of bone repair. Daily dosing is recommended.
• Avoid extensive physical activity and take a painkiller along with the supplements for pain relief.

 

 

RICKETS:

What is Rickets?

In contrast to osteomalacia, rickets is a disease of growing children [4]. It causes defective bone development in children resulting in soft bones leading to bowed legs. Bones are soft and weak that can be easily fractured. Rickets affects the growth plates at the ends of long bones causing skeletal deformities.

 

What Causes Rickets?

A number of reasons can be the underlying cause of rickets. Some of them are listed below:

• Lack of vitamin D in the diet
• Limited exposure to sunlight
• Celiac disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Irritable bowel disease (IBD)
• Kidney problems

 

What are the Symptoms of Rickets?

Following are the common signs and symptoms of rickets:

• Muscle weakness
• Pain in bones
• Delayed growth
• Bowed legs
• Easy and frequent fractures
• Breast bone projection
• Thickening of the wrists and ankles

 

Treatment Options for Rickets:

Following are the available treatment options [5]:

• Vitamin D supplements
• Calcium supplements
• Increased exposure to sunlight
• Various bracing techniques for appropriate bone growth
• Surgery for severe bone deformities

Regular blood tests and X-rays should be carried out to monitor the level of vitamin D in your body and progress respectively. Too much vitamin D might prove to be toxic. Do not overdose on the supplement and consult a doctor before taking any medicine.

 

 

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12541194/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S135730391300217X
3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rickets-and-osteomalacia/
4. https://www.massgeneral.org/children/rickets#:~:text=Rickets%20can%20cause%20bowing%20of,(mostly%20calcium%20and%20phosphate).
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313732/#:~:text=The%20dosing%20scheme%20recommended%20for,children%201%20year%20and%20older.

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