title: Rickets.
abstract: Rickets, historically referred to as "the English disease", is common worldwide. Absence of phosphate at the growth plate and mineralising bone surfaces due to inadequate vitamin D supply either from sunlight exposure or diet is the main cause. Inherited disorders causing hypophosphataemia have shown the intricacies of phosphate metabolism. Present advice about the provision of vitamin D to young infants needs to be clarified; the existing guidance is fragmentary and contradictory, and will not help to eradicate the disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Sheffield, Academic Unit of Child Health, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte Jane
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.affiliation: University of Sheffield, Academic Unit of Child Health, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: N.J.Bishop@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D017674:Hypophosphatemia / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D010710:Phosphates / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D012279:Rickets / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D