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Osteoporosis (Juvenile)
Background
In Osteoporosis there is a reduction in both the quantity and quality of bone in the skeleton leading to an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis causes more than two hundred thousand fractures each year which result in pain, deformity and sometimes premature death. It affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men in the UK and although uncommon it can present in childhood and early adolescence. Bone is lost due to the natural ageing process but in addition this is also influenced by the effect of hormones (particularly oestrogen in women), dietary factors especially calcium intake, physical inactivity and excess tobacco and alcohol consumption. The chance of developing osteoporosis is also increased by specific drugs, notably corticosteroids and other diseases, for example an untreated over active thyroid gland.
When osteoporosis develops in childhood it may be as a result of one of these factors but it is also possible that no underlying cause is found and the term idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis is used to describe this condition.
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