C15 - Bone disease Flashcards
What is rickets
Rickets is a disease in which minerals are not adequately absorbed into children’s bones, while the bones are still growing.
What happens to the bones when you have rickets
The bones become
Soft
Weak
Rickets can lead to
This can lead to fractures and skeletal deformities.
Can rickets occur in adults
no, but In adults whose bones have stopped growing, the same condition is called osteomalacia and is milder than rickets
What are the signs of Rickets
Signs and symptoms
Bone tenderness
Fractures
Skeletal Deformities.
Toddlers may have bow-legs and some older children may have knock knees and some have deformities in the skull, pelvis and spine.
With little calcium in the diet the pelvic girdle grows to less than its normal size, and, as a result, childbirth can be difficult.
What is rickets and osteomalacia a result of
Lack of vitamin D or calcium. As sunlight turns inactive vitamin D into Active vitamin D which allows the incorporation of calcium into the bones.
and more recently
Increased use of sunblock has led to an increase in the incidence of rickets.
Children whose skin is always covered or who spend a lot of time indoors may develop rickets.
Breastfed babies do not receive adequate vitamin D if their mothers are vitamin D deficient from keeping their skin covered.
People with darker skins need more exposure to sunlight to maintain vitamin D levels.
What are some preventative measures you can take
Children and adults need exposure to sunlight and a diet with adequate calcium.
Vitamin D is fat - soluble.
Foods that contain it include Butter Eggs Fish Liver Oily fishes
Can also be reversed through the use of exposure to ultraviolet B light or cod liver oil both of which provide Vitamin D but surgery may need to be carried out to reverse the effects of bone abnormalities.
Define Osteomalacia
a disease in which calcium is not absorbed into bones of adults the bones become softer weaker and in some cases deformed
What is brittle bone disease
An inherited disorder in the disease of the organic and inorganic components of bone leading to an increased risk of fracture
what is another name for osteomalacia
osteogenesis imperfecta
How often does it occur
It occurs in about 1 in 20,000 live births, producing susceptibility to fracture,poor muscle tone and loose joints.
How can the diagnosis of osteomalacia be confirmed
Testing collagen from a skin biopsy or a DNA analysis can confirm the diagnosis.
what is the effects of OI
Collagen normally has a high proportion of the smallest amino acid, glycine. In (OI)
A mutation replaces glycine with bulkier amino acids so it cannot coul as tightly and so the hydrogen bonds holding the triple helix together are weaker. The distortion of the triple helix of colagen affect the way it operates: its interaction with hydroxy- apatitie is altered and that makes the bones brittle.
is there any cure for OI
no
How can it be treated
Treatment aims to increase bone strength to prevent fractures and maintain mobility:
Drugs can increase bone mass redure bone pain and the tendency to fracture
Surgery in severe cases places metal rods inside the long bones so that children can learn to walk
Physiotherapy strengthens muscles and improves mobility
