Common Questions, Quick Answers: Pediatrics

Osteoporosis

Donna D'Alessandro, M.D.
Susan Kinzer, M.P.H.
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed
Creation Date: February 2003
Last Revision Date: February 2003

• What is osteoporosis?
• Who can get it?
• What causes it?
• What are the signs and symptoms?
• Is it contagious?
• How is it treated?
• Can it be prevented?
• When should I call the doctor?

What is osteoporosis?

• Bones with osteoporosis are weak and break easily.
• The amount of bone, called bone mass, is decreased.

Who can get it?

• It is most common in older women.
• Children and older men are also at risk.

What causes it?
There are two types of osteoporosis.

1. Primary osteoporosis is the most common. It is caused by:

• Age -- the older you get, the less bone you have in general.
• Getting too little calcium in your diet.

2. Secondary osteoporosis is caused by:

• Other diseases that affect bone like juvenile arthritis, diabetes, and eating disorders.
• Medicines that break down bone.
• Unhealthy behaviors like smoking, drinking, and getting too little or too much exercise.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• You may not have any signs or symptoms.
• Many people do not know they have it until they break a bone.
• You may have pain.

Is it contagious?

• No.

How is it treated?

• X-rays and other tests may be done to measure your bone's strength.
• Treatment includes increasing the calcium in your diet, getting regular exercise, and possibly changing medicines.

Can it be prevented?

• Prevention should start at an early age when bones are rapidly growing bigger and stronger.
• Eat a well-balanced diet including high calcium foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables.
• Get regular exercise.
• Do not drink.
• Do not smoke.

When should I call the doctor?

• Call your doctor if your child has bones that break easily.
• Call your doctor if you have any questions about your child's condition.

Quick Answers

• Bones with osteoporosis are weak and break easily.
• The amount of bone, called bone mass, is decreased.
• It is most common in older women, but children and men can also get it.
• Primary osteoporosis is usually related to older age.
• Secondary osteoporosis is usually caused by other diseases, some medicines, or unhealthy behaviors like drinking and smoking.
• You may not have any signs or symptoms. Many people do not know they have it until they break a bone.
• Treatment includes increasing the calcium in your diet, getting regular exercise, and possibly changing medicines.
• The best time to start preventing osteoporosis is during childhood when your bones are growing bigger and stronger.

References

• KidsHealth for Kids. Osteoporosis. 2002, February. (cited 2002, December 17). URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/osteoporosis.html
• National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases &endash; National Resource Center. Juvenile Osteoporosis. 2001, March. (cited 2002, December 17). URL: http://www.osteo.org/newfile.asp?doc=r609I&doctitle=Juvenile+Osteoporosis&doctype=HTML+Fact+Sheet
• Penn State Children's Hospital. Osteoporosis in Children. 2002, December 5. (cited 2002, December 17). URL: http://www.hmc.psu.edu/childrens/healthinfo/o/osteoporosis.htm
• University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Diabetes & other Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders. Juvenile Osteoporosis. 2002. (cited 2002, December 17). URL: http://www.uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/pediatric/diabetes/josteo.htm

Title Page

URL: http://www.virtualpediatrichospital.org/