Question
My sister’s niece has had a slight curvature of the spine since her teenage years. After a thorough check-up, it turned out that the child has rickets, and she is particularly short now. My sister has been quite worried about this. Hi, does rickets affect height?
Answer
Rickets is caused by calcium deficiency leading to abnormal bone development. This abnormal bone growth is mainly manifested in conditions like pigeon chest, chain chest, funnel chest, and O-shaped legs, which also have an impact on height. If a child has rickets, it can lead to a slowdown in height growth. Therefore, if a child shows symptoms of rickets, treatment should be sought early on, which typically involves supplementing with vitamin D and calcium supplements.