Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Rickets

Rickets is a childhood disorder characterised by deformed bones due to inadequate amounts of calcium and phosphorus being incorporated into the bone. This is usually caused by a vitamin D deficiency which is vital for the absorption of calcuim into the bone.

An almost identical condition in adults is called osteomalacia (bone softening).

X-Linked Hypophosphatemia is characterised by the symptoms of rickets with low phosphorus in the blood associated with high phosphate excretion in the urine. It affects appoximately 1 in 20,000 people.

Rickets also occasionally develops in children with rare forms of kidney and liver disease or as a complication of a digestive disorder that causes malabsorption of calcium or phosphorus .

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Complications
• Treatment

• RabiesRadiationRadiotherapyRaynaud's phenomenonRectal examinationRed blood countReiter's syndromeRelapsing feverRenin testRepetitive strain injuryRespiratory distress syndromeRespiratory tract infectionRespite careRestless leg syndromeRestricted growthRetinal detachmentReye's syndromeRhesus factor diseaseRheumatic feverRheumatoid arthritisRhinitisRicketsRingwormRisks and benefits of treatmentRoot canal treatmentRosaceaRoundwormRubella

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