Common Symptoms Of Rickets

Thickened Ankles And Wrists

Though their bones are soft, babies and children with rickets often present with thickened ankles and wrists, because the cartilage and bone cells in the growth plates in these areas expand even in the presence of rickets. The growth plate is the part of the bone that keeps growing during childhood and should ossify as the child grows. However, in rickets, the bones do not mineralize properly as the growth plate develops, which leads to the child’s ankles and wrists being unusually thick and wide. Unfortunately, the bones of the wrists and ankles are so soft they can be bent, which puts these joints at risk of deformity.