Incidental radiological diagnosis of rickets.
Rickets fortunately remains rare in the United Kingdom, although its actual incidence is currently undetermined.1 Many still consider it to be a disease of poverty prevalent during the Victorian era. However, a number of recent articles have highlighted concern among British health professionals about the number of cases still being diagnosed in this country. These cases have nearly all involved non-Caucasian children who are considered to be at high risk due to skin colour, prolonged breast feeding, and low maternal vitamin D levels. Their presentations are variable ranging from failure to thrive, bone deformities, seizures, and even stridor. The diagnosis is usually made in babies and toddlers.We present a series of patients attending our accident and emergency (A&E) department, over a five month period, where the diagnosis of rickets was primarily a radiological diagnosis.
Rennie
L M
LM
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland. louise.rennie@kierto.com
Beattie
T F
TF
Wilkinson
A G
AG
Crofton
P
P
Bath
L E
LE
D018912:Arabs; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012279:Rickets / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*