Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets and Nursing Care

Rickets is the most common metabolic bone disease seen in children all over the world. Rickets, characterized by deformity and insufficient growth of the bones, have long-term effects on bone health. The prevalence of the disease has been significantly reduced in many countries by programs such as vitamin D supplementation, enrichment of foods with vitamin D and awareness of the importance of sunlight in vitamin D synthesis. However, despite all efforts, rickets is an important public health problem that continues to be seen, especially among children aged 0 to 6 years. Neonatal D vitamin deficiency, which especially is seen because of maternal vitamin D deficiency, can cause severe hypocalcemic convulsions leading to neurological problems in the child. Rickets is a childhood illness that can be prevented and treated. The bone deformities due to the disease can be corrected by treatment in growing and developing children. It is important for nurses to identify at-risk mothers and children early on to reduce disease burden. Therefore, this article focuses on the signs and symptoms of rickets in children due to deficiency of vitamin D, children at risk and the responsibilities of the nurses in the prevention and treatment.