Question
What is rickets?
Answer
Rickets primarily affects children under two years of age, who may suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D due to insufficient sunlight exposure or late introduction of complementary foods. This deficiency can impact the absorption of calcium ions, leading to skeletal abnormalities such as pigeon chest and costochondral ossicles. In severe cases, it may also cause feverless seizures. The occurrence of rickets is due to a deficiency of vitamin D leading to low calcium ion levels, which in turn causes a series of symptoms.