Rachitis

Rickets causes soft, weak bones in children. It usually occurs when they do not get enough vitamin D, which helps growing bones absorb the minerals calcium and phosphorous. It can also happen when calcium or phosphorus levels are too low.

Your child might not get enough vitamin D if he or she:

Has dark skin
Spends too little time outside
Has on sunscreen all the time when out of doors
Doesn't eat foods containing vitamin D because of lactose intolerance or a strict vegetarian diet
Is breastfed without receiving vitamin D supplements
Can't make or use vitamin D because of a medical disorder such as celiac disease

In addition to dietary rickets, children can get an inherited form of the disease. Symptoms include bone pain or tenderness, impaired growth, and deformities of the bones and teeth. Your child's doctor uses lab and imaging tests to make the diagnosis. Treatment is replacing the calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D that are lacking in the diet. Rickets is rare in the United States.

WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.

Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Rachitis

RACHITIS
The disease is one of non-assimilation, the remedies, 1st general tonics and nutrients; cod liver oil. quinine, copper arsenite, syrup ferrous iodide, Haemo-Mangan; 2d Bone lood; phosphorus. glycero phosphates, hypophosphites, lacto-phosphates, Eupeptic Hypophos phites, N., B. & Co. Thyroid extract and suprarenal extract have given good results. Improve hygienic condition of patient and prescribe massage and passive exercise when this is practicable.¹

References

1) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.