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Types of Rickets



There are several types of rickets however the cause is always due to a deficiency of vitamin D, phosphate or calcium. These include hypophosphatemic rickets (vitamin-D-resistant rickets), kidney rickets (renal osteodystrophy), and, most commonly, nutritional rickets (caused by dietary deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate).

• Nutritional rickets is also known as osteomalacia. This condition is mainly found in infants and children who have developed a vitamin D deficiency that prevent normal bone and teeth formation.
• Hypophosphatemic rickets causes bones to become extremely pliable and soft. A genetic defect is the main cause for this kind of rickets leading to the inability of the kidneys to control the amount of phosphate lost through the urine.
• Renal rickets are also caused due to kidney damage or some form of kidney disease which prevents the kidneys from functioning normally. As a result too much calcium and phosphate is lost and a severe deficiency in the body leads to rickets.