Rickets
Rickets is a condition in which bones fail to harden properly because the body lacks enough vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. It is most common in young children but can affect adults, particularly those with severe or prolonged deficiency. Low dietary intake and limited sun exposure from indoor lifestyles contribute to its continued prevalence despite abundant sunlight in many places.
Key points
- Without enough vitamin D alongside calcium and phosphate, growing bones fail to harden and stay soft, mostly in young children.
- Bowed weight-bearing legs, thickened wrists and ankles, and a slow-closing soft spot on the skull are classic signs in children.
- Alfacalcidol, a pre-activated vitamin D, helps when the body cannot process regular vitamin D supplements well, and sits alongside general bone health support.
Why bones weaken in rickets
Vitamin D controls how the gut absorbs calcium and phosphate, the minerals that give bone its rigidity. Without enough of it, mineralisation stalls and bones stay rubbery. Weight-bearing legs often bow outward, the wrists and ankles thicken, and children may have a soft spot on the skull that takes longer than normal to close. Muscle weakness, dental delays, and slow growth are other common signs.
Treating the underlying deficiency
The cornerstone of treatment is restoring vitamin D to working levels. Alfacalcidol is an activated form of vitamin D used when the body cannot convert standard vitamin D efficiently, which is the case in some hereditary and kidney-related forms of rickets. General bone health support, including adequate calcium intake, is maintained alongside vitamin D therapy throughout recovery.