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

See related Patient Topics Bones, Joints and Muscles, Osteoporosis, Seniors' Health or Women's Health.

See related Provider Topics Bones, Joints and Muscles, Seniors' Health or Women's Health.

All contents copyright © 1992-2004 the Author(s) and The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.

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