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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.¹

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

• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis can affect the way your child's bones grow. That can lead to osteoporosis.
• Problems with certain glands. The thyroid gland and parathyroid glands make 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 and vitamin D. These are important for building healthy bones.
• Eating disorders. With disorders like anorexia and 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. This illness affects how your child's bones grow.
• Disease in your kidney. If your child has problems with his or her kidneys, that can lead to osteoporosis.
• Diabetes. Children with 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.

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

• Drugs used to stop seizures, called anticonvulsants
• Corticosteroid pills (these are usually used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and asthma)
• Drugs that calm the 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.

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. 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.

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 2008. All rights reserved.