This archive report was first published on 31 July 2020.
On July 31, 2020, during the daily COVID-19 updates by the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, the Health Cabinet Assistant Secretary (CAS), announced that among the 11 lives lost to COVID-19 was a child with rickets.
This uncommon case has raised concerns about children being confined indoors during the pandemic, which can lead to Vitamin D deficiency and rickets.
Rickets is a disease of childhood caused by deficient mineralization at the growth plates of long bones, often due to a lack of vitamin D or calcium in the diet.
Common symptoms of rickets include delayed growth, bow-legs, weakness, and pain in the spine, pelvis, and legs.
According to Adelaide Nekesa, a nutritionist at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, parents can prevent rickets by giving their babies sunlight exposure daily, as sunlight provides the skin with the energy to produce vitamin D.
Other than sunlight, Nekesa suggests foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as dairy products, eggs, and fish, particularly fatty fish, which are also rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Mothers can also prevent risks of rickets in their babies during pregnancy by taking vitamin D supplements and ensuring they have good vitamin D levels.
Infants can be put on vitamin D supplements from birth to ensure they have the right levels of vitamin D.
