Osteoporosis - Osteoporosis in children

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis in children

Osteoporosis is rare in children and teenagers. When it does happen, it is usually caused by another illness or by drugs. This is called secondary osteoporosis.

Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Health topics: osteoporosis overview.
December 2007. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/bone/hi/overview.htm (accessed on 11 August 2008).

Osteoporosis caused by illnesses

Here are some of the illnesses that can cause osteoporosis in your child.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This type of

rheumatoid arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.

arthritis can affect the way your child's bones grow. That can lead to osteoporosis.
Problems with certain glands. The

thyroid gland
Your thyroid gland is a small organ that sits in your neck, just in front of your windpipe. It sends out a hormone called thyroxine. This acts on receptors within cells. By acting on the receptors it gives the cells a message to speed up their metabolism and work harder.

thyroid gland and parathyroid glands make

hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.

hormones. These affect how quickly bone is made or broken down in your child's body. If these glands make too much hormone, your child's body breaks down bone faster than it should.
Celiac disease. People who have celiac disease can't digest a substance in wheat. This disease can stop your child's body from taking up nutrients like

calcium
Calcium is an important mineral in your body. It helps to make your bones and teeth strong. It also keeps your heart, nerves, muscles and blood working properly.

calcium and

vitamin D
Your body uses vitamin D to help make strong, healthy bones. You can get vitamin D from some foods, such as egg yolks and some dairy products. And your skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight.

vitamin D. These are important for building healthy bones.
Eating disorders. With disorders like

anorexia
Anorexia is an eating disorder. People who have anorexia starve themselves because they think they are too fat. They do this even when they are very thin. It is most common among teenage girls. Doctors may call it anorexia nervosa.

anorexia and

bulimia
Bulimia is a psychological illness. People who have it tend to eat too much at one time (called bingeing) and then do something to keep from gaining weight. For example, they may make themselves throw up or do too much exercise.

bulimia, your child may get too thin and may not get enough nutrients from food. This makes it very likely he or she will get osteoporosis.
Osteogenesis imperfecta. This is a rare illness. It is caused by

genes
Your genes are the parts of your cells that contain instructions for how your body works. Genes are housed on chromosomes, structures that sit in the nucleus at the middle of each of your cells. You have 23 pairs of chromosomes in your normal cells, each of which has thousands of genes. You get one set of chromosomes, and all of the genes that are on them, from each of your parents.

genes. This illness affects how your child's bones grow.
Disease in your kidney. If your child has problems with his or her

kidney
Your kidneys are organs that filter your blood to make urine. You have two of them, on either side of your abdominal cavity, toward your back.

kidneys, that can lead to osteoporosis.
Diabetes. Children with

diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).

diabetes can get osteoporosis too.

The best treatment for this kind of osteoporosis is to work out what is causing it and treat that illness. Then your child's bones should get stronger as he or she grows.

Osteoporosis caused by medications

Here are some drugs that can cause osteoporosis in your child:

Drugs used to stop

seizure
A seizure is a sudden spasm of muscles caused by too much electrical activity in the brain. It results in muscle twitching and other symptoms.

seizures, called anticonvulsants
corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are substances that your body produces naturally. But they can also be made in a laboratory to treat certain conditions. Corticosteroids have many different effects, including helping your body to use sugar and to control the amount of fluid it retains. They also reduce inflammation in the body, which is why they are sometimes used to treat diseases like asthma. (Asthma is caused by inflammation in the tubes that carry air in the lungs.)

Corticosteroid pills (these are usually used to treat

rheumatoid arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.

rheumatoid arthritis and

asthma
Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs. It makes you wheeze, cough and feel short of breath. Asthma attacks are caused by iflammation and narrowing of the airways, which makes it hard for air to pass in and out of the lungs.

asthma)
Drugs that calm the

immune system
The immune system is made up of the parts of the body that are devoted to fighting infection. The body is constantly being threatened by infections from things like bacteria, viruses and parasites. The immune system fights these infections in different ways. At the microscopic level, the immune system uses antibodies and white blood cells, which travel in the blood and target infectious agents, such as bacteria. These microscopic parts of the immune system either kill the infectious agent directly, or take it to other parts of the body, like the spleen, where it can be dealt with. The lymph nodes are another important part of the immune system. Within them, white blood cells filter through the foreign material that has entered the blood, to see if there are any infections. When you have a swollen gland during a cold, this is actually a lymph node that is reacting to the infection. Unfortunately, it is possible for the immune system to become confused and to use its destructive powers to target healthy parts of the body. Diseases that result from this type of situation are called autoimmune diseases.

immune system (these are used to treat lots of illnesses).

If your child's osteoporosis is caused by a drug, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose possible or change to a different drug.

Your child will also need to eat foods that have a lot of calcium and vitamin D. And he or she should get as much exercise as possible. These things help to grow healthy bones.

Osteoporosis for no clear reason

Sometimes children get osteoporosis for no clear reason. This is called idiopathic osteoporosis. But it's very rare.

This usually happens in healthy children just before they reach

puberty
Puberty is the time when boys and girls develop secondary sexual characteristics. For boys, the major changes include pubic hair, a deeper voice, and growth of their penis and testicles. For girls, major changes include pubic hair, breasts and starting to have periods. After puberty, girls are able to become pregnant and boys are able to father children.

puberty. Typically, the first symptom is pain in your child's back, hips and feet. The pain may make it hard for your child to walk.

The good news about this type of osteoporosis is that it usually gets better on its own. And your child's bones get stronger again on their own.

Sources for the information on this page:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Health topics: osteoporosis overview.December 2007. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/bone/hi/overview.htm (accessed on 11 August 2008).

This information was last updated on Apr 21, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.