Hesperian Health Guides
Chapter 13: Children Who Stay Small or Have Weak Bones
Rickets
Rickets is weakness and deformity of the bones that occurs from lack of vitamin D. We get vitamin D from whole milk, butter, egg yolks, animal fats, and liver, especially fish liver oil. The body also makes its own vitamin D when sunlight shines on the skin, but the amount it makes depends on skin pigmentation, time of year, and a person’s location in the world. Children born to mothers who didn’t get enough vitamin D during pregnancy, children who do not get enough food with vitamin D, and children who are not often exposed to sunlight may gradually develop signs of rickets.
| SIGNS OF RICKETS |
 Soft spot on baby's head is slow to close
bony necklace
curved bones
big, lumpy joints
bowed legs (knees bent out) |
Rickets can be prevented by giving vitamin D to all newborn babies for the first 6 months of life (600-1200 IU of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 by mouth once a day).
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also be given vitamin D (600 IU vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 by mouth once a day) to support the health of their growing babies. It is also helpful to eat foods that contain vitamin D, and spend time in sunlight. Rickets is treated by giving vitamin D (vitamin D2 or vitamin D3) as well.
| Age | Dose | How to take |
| up to 1 month | 1000 IU (25 mcg) | By mouth, 1 time a day for 3 months |
| 1 to 12 months | 1000-2000 IU (25-50 mcg) | By mouth, 1 time a day for 3 months |
| 1 to 12 years | 2000-6000 IU (50-150 mcg) | By mouth, 1 time a day for 3 months |
| 12 years and older | 6000 IU (150 mcg) | By mouth, 1 time a day for 3 months |
Following treatment, children younger than 1 year should be given 400 IU (10 mcg) of vitamin D one time a day and children 1 year and older should be given 600 IU (15 mcg) of vitamin D one time a day.