Category : Health and you
Strong bones, bright future
Childhood is a duration of great change and growth of life, during which the body develops the strength and mobility it will need throughout its life, bones lengthen, and joints become more flexible. However, if not identified and treated promptly, a number of bone and joint diseases in youngsters can impact this delicate process and result in discomfort, deformities, or permanent impairment.
What are paediatric bone and joint diseases?
These disorders include problems that affect a child’s bones, muscles, or joints’ development, structure, or functionality. They may result from infections, inflammation, traumas, developmental problems, or hereditary reasons. Since children’s bones are still developing, these conditions frequently manifest and develop differently than in adults, necessitating specialised methods for diagnosis, care, and recuperation.
Overview of common paediatric bone disorders:
- Rickets and Osteomalacia: These disorders develop when a child’s body fails to maintain appropriate amounts of calcium and phosphate balance or vitamin D deficiency. Legs may bend, development may stall, and the bones become softer as a result. The good news is that it can be avoided with easy measures like taking vitamins, eating a balanced diet, and getting some sunshine.
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta: This hereditary disorder, which is sometimes referred to as brittle bone disease, causes the body to be unable to create strong collagen, which renders bones brittle and prone to breaking. Children may develop more slowly, have blue eyes, and fracture more frequently. Many children may have active, satisfying lives with the use of supportive braces, physiotherapy, and certain bone-strengthening drugs.
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): This is the most prevalent chronic joint illness in kids, resulting in lethargy, stiffness, pain, and oedema. Early diagnosis is essential because joints can be kept flexible and irreversible damage can be avoided with prompt medication and frequent physical therapy.
- Legg–Calvé–Perthes Disease: This condition, which mostly affects boys between the ages of 4 and 8, causes discomfort and hobbling in the hip when the blood flow to the bone momentarily reduces. Early detection and good management help prevent long-term hip deformity.
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE): A very is common condition in growing teens, particularly those who are overweight, is caused by the top of the thigh bone shifting out of position at the hip joint. Although it hurts and makes walking difficult, most kids heal well and may move normally again after prompt surgery.
In children, septic arthritis (a joint infection) and osteomyelitis (a bone infection) are dangerous illnesses that require prompt medical intervention. In order to avoid long-term harm, they frequently need immediate antibiotic treatment and, in certain situations, surgery. They can also cause excruciating pain, fever, and swelling.
Children who recover from bacterial or viral illnesses may also occasionally develop autoimmune or post-infectious arthritis. These illnesses demonstrate how the immune system of a developing kid can occasionally overreact, resulting persistent inflammation even after the underlying infection has subsided.
Early detection is the key:
Early identification and treatment are particularly beneficial because of the remarkable capacity of children’s bones to repair and remodel. Many bone and joint issues may be resolved quickly with the support of a team that includes paediatricians, orthopaedic experts, physiotherapists, and dietitians, allowing kids to develop, move, and enjoy life without long-term restrictions.
Looking Ahead: Innovation and Hope
Paediatric orthopaedic research is developing more quickly than before. The way we treat young patients is changing as a result of innovations like gene therapy, 3D printing for bone restoration, and novel biologic therapies for paediatric arthritis. However, the most effective strategies to stop many of these diseases and guarantee brighter futures for kids worldwide remain straightforward and include awareness-raising, early health screenings, and improved nutrition.
Message to caregivers:
Although raising a child might be difficult, your assistance makes a huge impact. Many children may develop, play, and flourish with early diagnosis, appropriate care, and direction from medical professionals. Every action, from healthy eating and mild exercise to medical attention, keeps your child robust and energetic.
By,
Supriya Bevinakoppamath
Tutor and PhD scholar
Department of Medical Genetics
JSS Medical College and Hospital