Further investigation revealed that the child came from a strict religious home where she wore clothing that covered all but her nose and forehead. The combination of her manner of dress and the absence of dairy products in her diet contributed to her condition, reports Dr. Rapaport. Both health care professionals and parents need to be educated about factors that predispose to rickets and about measures that can prevent its development. Dark skin, colder climates, abundant clothing and industrial pollution are all potential barriers to vitamin D production by the skin, says Dr. Shah. Boning Up on Vitamin D Bone is a dynamic organ that is constantly being formed and re-formed, says Dr. Shah.
Vitamin D is essential for bone formation and mineralization.
It also ensures that there are proper amounts of calcium and phosphorus on hand for bone growth. When you see a case of rickets, the body is desperately trying to make bone, but adequate calcium and phosphorus aren't available. As a result, a child with rickets will have ankles and wrists that flare, with noticeable knobby bumps, and weakened leg bones that bow under the child's own weight. Other symptoms include a lack of muscle tone, a disproportionately large head and forehead and delayed infant milestones such as sitting up, standing and the appearance of teeth. Dr. Shah recommends human milk for infants, but in this case, she stresses the importance of vitamin D supplementation, since human milk contains little vitamin D .