Rickets on the rise: A poor summer coupled with a '21st century childhood' leaves the UK with widespread vitamin D deficiency

 

A poor summer and a 21st century childhood could see a rise in the number of cases of rickets, cancer and other health problems, a top surgeon has warned. Swansea University's Professor Norman Ratcliffe says that the UK faces a deficiency in vitamin D due to the dull weather, with other experts warning that the country could be heading back to the 1920s when a large number of children suffered from rickets, which affects bone development in children and can leave sufferers with bowed legs. One of the dullest summers on record coupled with children not playing outside, wearing high factor sunscreen and being driven everywhere have meant that many youngster's vitamin D resources have not been replenished in time for winter.

A dull summer and a lack of children playing outside could lead to an increase in the number of cases of rickets (file picture)

Wet: A dreary summer saw some areas flood in June. Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, is pictured after torrential downpours brought flooding

Muddy: Many of this summer's top events were hit by some of the worst weather for the time of year on record

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Parts of the UK recorded sunshine hours usually seen in late winter with the summer average in 2012 18 per cent lower than the average over the past three decades. Professor Nicholas Clarke, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, told The Telegraph that the poor summer could see an increase in rickets cases - with most children suffering musculoskeletal pain at his hospital testing positive for a vitamin D deficiency. He said: ' There is no major education programme and primary care doctors are still not fully up to speed. Young children, pregnant women, people with dark skin and the over 65s are most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency.

A RETURN TO THE 1920s: WHAT IS RICKETS?

Rickets is a condition that affects bone development in children. It causes the bones to become soft and malformed, which can lead to bone deformities.

The most common cause of rickets is a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Vitamin D comes from foods such as oily fish and eggs, and from sunlight on our skin. Vitamin D is essential for a child to form strong and healthy bones. 

In rare cases, children can be born with a genetic form of rickets. It can also develop if another condition affects how vitamins and minerals are absorbed by the body. 

Rickets causes the bones to become painful, soft and weak. This leads to deformities of the skeleton, such as bowed legs, curvature of the spine and thickening of the ankles, wrists and knees.

Rickets was common during Victorian times, but mostly disappeared in the Western world during the 1940s thanks to the fortification with vitamin D of foods such as margarine and cereal.

However, there has been and increase in cases of rickets in the UK in recent years. Children of Asian, African-Caribbean and Middle Eastern origin have a higher risk because their skin is darker and they need more sunlight to get enough vitamin D.

Other groups who are at risk include children born prematurely and children taking medication that interferes with vitamin D. However, any child whose diet does not contain enough vitamin D or calcium can develop rickets.

Source: NHS Choices

 Source: Daily Mail UK 

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