(Jrt)
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia is the adult equivalent of rickets in children. Rickets virtually disappeared during the twentieth century because of the systematic oral supplements of vitamin D in children in low-age.Au beginning of the 21st century, Europe, osteomalacia, it remains relatively frequent diagnosis n 'is usually considered only in patients with advanced disease or high risk (the elderly confined, serious disorders of the digestive absorption).
There is a widespread osteopathy, mainly linked to a vitamin D deficiency, characterized by a lack of primary mineralization of bone matrix filed by the osteoblasts. There is therefore an abnormal accumulation of non-mineralized osteoid tissue leading to bone fragility. It differs radically from osteoporosis where the fabric is rarefied bone mineralization but normal. The most common symptoms are fatigue, muscle and bone pain (chronic back pain, knee pain). The dosage of vitamin D in the blood, collapsed, allows early diagnosis but it is rarely asked at this stage because of low specificity of these symptoms are often reported with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia primitive.Le time of diagnosis is often several years. At a very late stage (complications), osteomalacia causes spontaneous fractures and frequently small cracks on bones, the most affected are the pelvis, vertebrae and femurs.Le skeleton is radiotransparent because the density of the bone is reduced.
It is common in subjects deprived of sunlight and in subjects with dark skin or black, particularly if living in low latitudes sunny and heals by supplementation with vitamin D. The osteomalacia is less common in North America where many basic foods (milk, yaourths, cereals) are routinely fortified with vitamin D.
Read also Vitamin D
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