Shock as rickets cases rise in East Lancashire

5:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

CAMPAIGNING MP Kate Green has highlighted the ‘shocking rise’ in rickets as East Lancashire public health chiefs warn parents of a disease many thought consigned to history.

The Labour MP called for government action over the disease, which for generations was associated with poverty.

She acknowledged steps to remind GPs about the dangers of a lack of vitamin D, which causes the disease that leads to soft and deformed bones, but said more was needed to raise awareness.

Already East Lancashire public health bosses are telling families children need exposure to sunshine and a healthy diet.

In Blackburn with Darwen the local NHS and the council launched a special “Shine” campaign offering vitamin D supplements to pregnant mothers, new mums and all under fives.

This exceeds government guidelines.

Ms Green said the number of cases of rickets nationally rose from 183 in 1996 to 762 in 2011 adding: “Rickets is a preventable disease, one that many of us thought firmly belonged to the past, and which we can and should take action to eradicate.”

Comments(8)

jimpy0 says...
5:09pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Its noted she failed to specify which ethnicities ricketts is now prevalent in. How can you get sunshine when covered in blankets and binbags and kept indoors.

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Dickiepayshey says...
9:17pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Quote ........ She acknowledged steps to remind GPs about the dangers of a lack of vitamin D, which causes the disease that leads to soft and deformed bones,

I've got great news for Ms Green.
Doctors have long been aware of the causes of rickets !!!!!!!!!
I was born in 1942 and even my parents were aware of the effects of the lack of vitamin D.
May I respectfully suggest that she targets the sections of the community affected by this problem in order to eradicate it !!

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jack daniels says...
9:50pm Thu 6 Sep 12

One of the down sides of modern day immigration is that some people have yet to adapt to the British climate. Fortunately, evolution will kick in and things will be ok in a few generations.

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TedHutchinson says...
7:36am Fri 7 Sep 12

We evolved pale skins so living naked outdoor lives at this latitude we would make sufficient vitamin d in summer to store surplus to last through the winter. We ALL have less Vitamin D3 than is optimal because we stay indoors, wear clothes, have a polluted atmosphere (which blocks UVB reaching ground level) and use medications like corticosteroids that like stress induced cortisol depletes Vit D
. So NONE of us have the 25(OH)D level that produces Vitamin d replete breast milk or which allows Vitamin d to be stored in tissue sufficient to last the winter.
CityAssays Birmingham NHS path lab offer postal Vitamin d tests for £25 or £20 if you buy 10 and share with friends.
Raising vitamin d level to 125nmol/l will not only prevent Rickets but also raises your sensitivity to pain, improves ability to deal with pain, reduces insulin resistance. and improves immune function.
Most UK adults require in the region of an extra 1000iu daily vitamin D3 for each 25lbs they weigh. Although Amazon and BigVits have cheaper 5000iu vit d drops/capsules it's still much cheaper from the USA. discount providers. As increasing Vitamin d levels enables a better uptake of calcium it's sensible to also increase MAGENSIUM intake 400mg daily extra chelate not oxide. There are online calculators to help you see how much calcium/magnesium your diet provides.

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Noiticer says...
10:43am Fri 7 Sep 12

This is another example of certain ethnic minority custom and practice having a negative effect upon themselves and an additional burden on the population in general. Ignore the nonsensical religious and cultural pressure to cover up in an often dull climate and the problem will largely disappear though an appropriate diet would also help.Many religions can be so restrictive especially on women.
Likewise the custom of marrying first cousins would help to avoid the many examples of genetic conditions which are more common in those ethnic minorities which practise this. It would, again, reduce the extra financial burden on the education and health services and avoid many offspring suffering a lifetime of handicap.

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midas says...
11:10am Fri 7 Sep 12

Its the Tories fault, if they hadn't increased VAT on fruit and veg then it would be a staple part of everyones diet.
.

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midas says...
11:12am Fri 7 Sep 12

I blame that David Cameron - its his government that agreed to cuts in the amount of sunshine that the UK receives. Outrageous.

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BritainfortheBritish says...
10:41am Sat 8 Sep 12

jimpy0 wrote:
Its noted she failed to specify which ethnicities ricketts is now prevalent in. How can you get sunshine when covered in blankets and binbags and kept indoors.
So true . I wonder how much this will cost the NHS along with all the other diseases prevalent in these communities

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