Diagnosis

During the exam, the doctor will gently press on your child's bones, checking for abnormalities. He or she will pay particular attention to your child's:

• Skull. Babies who have rickets often have softer skull bones and might have a delay in the closure of the soft spots (fontanels).
• Legs. While even healthy toddlers are a little bowlegged, an exaggerated bowing of the legs is common with rickets.
• Chest. Some children with rickets develop abnormalities in their rib cages, which can flatten and cause their breastbones to protrude.
• Wrists and ankles. Children who have rickets often have wrists and ankles that are larger or thicker than normal.

X-rays of the affected bones can reveal bone deformities. Blood and urine tests can confirm a diagnosis of rickets and also monitor the progress of treatment.