Symptoms of Rickets

The signs and symptoms of rickets may include:

Bowlegs
Waddling when walking (seen in toddlers)
Delay in walking in children
Curved spine (including scoliosis and kyphosis)
Delay in growth
Short stature (most adults with rickets are less than five feet tall)
Projection of the breastbone (pigeon chest)
Odd shaped skull
Bumps in the ribcage
Deformities of the pelvic bone
Pain in the bones of the legs, pelvis, and spine
Bone tenderness
Weak muscles
Low muscle tone
Cramps in the muscles
Twitching muscles & tingling in hands and feet (reduced levels of calcium in the blood)
Thick wrists and ankles
Dental deformities and delay in teeth development
Increased cavities in and weak teeth
Increased vulnerability to bone fractures
Weight loss and a loss of appetite
Difficulty sleeping

In cases of severe deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate, people may develop symptoms such as seizures of involuntary muscle contractions. If these occur, they should be treated as an emergency and demand immediate medical treatment.

Causes

Diagnosis