Contents:
- Medical Video: Osteoporosis Exercises for Spine Strength and Posture
- What is osteoporosis?
- Osteoporosis symptoms in children
- Causes of osteoporosis in children
- How to treat osteoporosis in children
Medical Video: Osteoporosis Exercises for Spine Strength and Posture
Osteoporosis does not only occur in older people, but also can affect the age of children. Osteoporosis in children is sometimes also called osteoporosis in adolescence. This rare condition is usually caused by a medical condition, such as the use of several drugs that make bone porous, or lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise. But basically, osteoporosis in children has not been much understood about the exact cause, and this is known as idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis can be said as a condition when the bones in the body have holes. Osteoporosis occurs when the bone loses minerals, such as calcium whose function is to fill the void in the hole in the bone. With the hole in the hole, the bone will become less dense, will lose body strength and someone will be easily tired in the move.
Usually osteoporosis conditions are more common in older people, especially in women who have menopause. But in fact this condition can occur at any age, including children.
Osteoporosis symptoms in children
Osteoporosis in children may not cause dangerous body conditions. However, you can still be aware of the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis in children as follows:
- Pain in the lower back, hips or legs.
- The structure of the spine is not upright like bending in the upper back (kyphosis).
- Chronic limping.
Causes of osteoporosis in children
In most cases, osteoporosis in children is caused by certain medical conditions, with drugs used (if indeed also suffer from certain diseases), or lifestyle factors. The causes include:
- Medical condition. This condition includes attacks on adolescents who experience rheumatism at a young age, genetic abnormalities in the bones (easily broken bones or bone collagen defects), diabetes, kidney disease, overactive thyroid gland conditions in the body, and even anorexia nervosa.
- Drug. Osteoporosis in children can occur if the child is in a certain period of treatment, such as cancer treatment, anticonvulsant drugs (epilepsy), or corticosteroids (used to treat various diseases including arthritis and asthma)
- Lifestyle. Children with inadequate nutrition are very susceptible to various diseases, including osteoporosis (especially lack of calcium and vitamin D). Can also be caused by excessive exercise which leads to disruption of the menstrual cycle. Children who are only lazy like just sleeping, can risk osteoporosis from an early age. Why is that? When a person does not do an activity, the condition of the body is at an increased risk of early osteoporosis. Their bodies and bones cannot train themselves in weight-bearing activities that encourage bone density.
How to treat osteoporosis in children
Treatment depends on the causes and health conditions underlying the child with osteoporosis. Here are some ways you can go:
- When bone loss is at an alarming stage, doctors can reduce the dose of some drugs (such as corticosteroids) or prescribe different drugs during intensive treatment.
- Children can be encouraged and trained in programs to fill bone density such as holding the burden. This activity will be trained by health professionals (such as physiotherapists or sports physiologists) to encourage bone density.
- Osteoporosis in children can also be helped by increasing calcium intake in foods, including low-fat dairy products such as milk non fat, cheese, yogurt and calcium sources including green leafy vegetables.
- Children will also be advised of adequate vitamin D needs in the body. Usually humans can get most of vitamin D from sunlight, so it is very important to expose their hands, face, and arms to sunlight for 5-10 minutes every day in the morning, especially when the sun and sky are bright.
- Please take calcium and vitamin D supplements if needed and usually this condition is done when bone loss is not at a severe level.
- Avoid activities that are at risk for fracture injuries, for example, by avoiding extreme sports contacts. You can also advise children to avoid caffeine (such as coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine).
