Rickets
A 5-year-old boy presents to the clinic with his mother, who reports that he has been experiencing persistent leg pain and difficulty walking for the past six months. The mother mentions that he often appears fatigued and has had several episodes of delayed tooth eruption. She also notes that he frequently complains of aches in his legs, especially after playing.
On physical examination, the boy is found to have bowed legs and a noticeable enlargement of the wrists and ankles. His growth appears to be slightly below the expected percentile for his age. The mother reveals that their family follows a strict vegetarian diet, and the child has limited sun exposure, as they live in a region with long winters and minimal outdoor activity.
Blood tests reveal low levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate, and an X-ray of the legs shows characteristic changes associated with rickets, including widening of the growth plates. The patient is diagnosed with rickets due to vitamin D deficiency.
The treatment plan includes vitamin D supplementation, dietary changes to increase calcium intake, and recommendations for more outdoor activity to enhance sun exposure. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor the child’s progress and ensure adequate nutritional intake.
a). Frequent respiratory infections
b). Persistent leg pain and difficulty walking
c). Unexplained bruising and bleeding
d). Severe headaches
a). Swollen lymph nodes
b). Bowed legs and enlarged wrists and ankles
c). Clubfoot deformity
d). Hypermobile joints
a). High sugar intake
b). Strict vegetarian diet with limited calcium
c). Excessive protein consumption
d). High intake of processed foods
a). Osteogenesis imperfecta
b). Rickets due to vitamin D deficiency
c). Osteomalacia
d). Paget's disease
