Rickets. Hypervitaminosis D. Tetany

Abstract

Rickets is a disease of growing organism, which appears as a result of polyhypovitaminosis with primary insufficiency of vitamin D, that leads to disturbances in metabolism of phosphorus and calcium and processes of ossification with changes of organs and systems function. Rickets is a disease of children of first two years. Its diagnostics is based on clinical manifestations involving nervous, osseous, muscular systems and laboratory and instrumental investigations. The incidence of rickets in Europe is similar to that in the United States. In sunny areas, such as in the Middle East, rickets may occur when infants are bundled in clothing and are not exposed to sunlight. In some parts of Africa, deficiency of calcium, phosphorus, or both in the diet may also lead to rickets, especially in societies where corn is predominant in the diet. The frequency of rickets has been increasing internationally. Possible reasons include recommendations for children to wear sunscreen while outdoors and a tendency for children to spend more time indoors, watching television or playing electronic games, instead of playing outdoors.