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Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. In the absence of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus cannot be properly absorbed in the body which hinders skeletal growth. New-born babies and infants up to two years of age require constant administration of vitamin D under pediatric observation to insure that they develop correctly.

Vitamin D is also produced and temporarily stored by the body following sun exposure. Insufficient sun exposure, mal-absorption and the action of some drugs represent the most common causes for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is treated with supplements and a diet rich in fatty fish. The right dosage to be administered is prescribed by the doctor depending on the patient’s age and the health condition. Senior citizens and children pose the highest risks to develop vitamin D deficiency.

The accelerated growth rate, dental eruption and skeletal development go hand in hand with vitamin D deficiency in children. Mothers should be careful to take their kids to periodical medical checkups and make sure that they have a balanced nutrition and healthy open air activities. For senior citizens, vitamin D deficiency appears because of the body’s incapacity to produce and store vitamin D. This is why an average older person requires a higher dietary intake of vitamin D. This is one of the reasons why so many middle aged and elderly women develop osteoporosis.   

Modification of the rib cage and the bone structure appear in children with vitamin D deficiency. The sternum deepens in the chest and the rigs become protruding. As for adults, bone and muscular pains are often associated with severe vitamin D deficiency. The examination involves the pressing of the sternum bone and the tibia. These are the bones that usually reveal the consequences of vitamin D deficiency.

The patient’s medical specificity influences the treatment for vitamin D deficiency. Blood tests, manual examination and radiology tests usually make the basis for diagnosis. The calcium level in the blood is often considered relevant for the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency. It is essential to act in the direction of preventing vitamin D deficiency today. Pay attention to the use of medication that prevents calcium absorption.