Causes

• Various causes of pediatric osteoporosis include vitamin D deficiency and anorexia nervosa. Secondary osteoporosis may develop as a result of taking certain medications for other medical conditions. For example, taking corticosteroids for conditions such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and muscular dystrophy may lead to bone loss.
  
  

Symptoms

• Pain is usually one of the main symptoms in children who develop osteoporosis. Children with idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis may experience difficulty walking. Because the bones are weaker in children with pediatric osteoporosis, bone fractures may also be a symptom. A fracture may occur easily with little trauma.
  
  

Diagnosis

• A diagnosis is made after a physical examination and other tests, which may include measures of the levels of calcium and vitamin D. X-rays may be taken, but they often fail to indicate bone loss until it is advanced. According to the institute, newer technology, such as duel energy X-ray absorptiometry, may diagnose bone loss at an early stage.
  
  

Treatment

• In secondary osteoporosis, the level of medication used to treat the underlying medical condition may need to be reduced. The lowest possible dose to help treat the condition should be used. Other treatment is aimed at building bone strength. Foods rich in vitamin D and calcium, such as milk, cheese, oranges, green leafy vegetables and almonds should be part of a child's diet.
  
  

Considerations

• In addition to pediatric osteoporosis, a condition known as osteogenesis imperfecta may cause fractures with little trauma in children. This rare genetic condition occurs primarily due to the malformation of the bones. Secondary osteoporosis also often develops, because bone mass is not at a normal level in children with the condition. Families in which a child has osteogenesis imperfecta often have a history of the disorder. Children with the condition may have additional symptoms, such as brittle teeth and hearing loss.
  
  

Duration of IJO

• Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis typically occurs just before the onset of puberty in previously healthy children. While Penn State Children's Hospital and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease differ slightly in their observations about when the condition may begin, they agree that for most children IJO is a temporary challenge.
  The institute asserts that most children with IJO "experience complete recovery of bone," and Penn State Children's Hospital observes that "IJO usually runs a course of two to four years, then goes away without any permanent disability or growth problems."