Rickets in children is caused by which vitamin deficiency?

Appeared in: NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Rickets is a disease of growing bones in children characterized by defective mineralization, making them soft and weak.
The primary cause is a deficiency in Vitamin D, which is essential for the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus from the intestines.
Without adequate calcium and phosphorus, the bones cannot mineralize properly, leading to skeletal deformities like the bowed legs (genu varum) shown in the image.
Other classic signs include rachitic rosary (bead-like bumps on the ribs), delayed fontanelle closure, and widening of the wrists and ankles.

Option B: Vitamin E deficiency does not cause rickets. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant.
Option C: Vitamin A deficiency is not associated with rickets. It is crucial for vision, immune function, and epithelial cell integrity.
Option D: Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, not rickets. While scurvy also affects bones, the mechanism is different.

Visual 1: Diagram - A flowchart showing the role of Vitamin D in calcium absorption and bone mineralization to illustrate the pathophysiology.
Visual 2: Chart - A comparison table of dietary sources of Vitamin D, A, E, and C.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Etiology of Rickets as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying children at risk for rickets, such as exclusively breastfed infants without supplementation, children with dark skin, and those with limited sun exposure.
Patient education is a critical nursing intervention. This includes teaching parents about the importance of Vitamin D supplements, adequate sun exposure, and a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D.
What if? - If this condition (defective bone mineralization) were seen in an adult, it would be called osteomalacia. While rickets affects growing bones at the growth plates, osteomalacia affects mature bones, causing them to be soft and prone to fractures.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Rickets'.
Recall the primary cause of rickets from your knowledge of pediatric and nutritional disorders.
Analyze the provided image. The image shows bowed legs (genu varum), which is a classic clinical sign confirming a diagnosis of rickets.
Evaluate the options. Vitamin D is directly linked to calcium absorption and bone mineralization, making it the correct answer.
Eliminate the other options by recalling the distinct deficiency diseases they cause (Vitamin A - night blindness; Vitamin C - scurvy; Vitamin E - hemolysis/neuropathy).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.