Rickets in association with skin diseases and conditions: A review with emphasis on screening and prevention

Physiotherapy Management of an Adolescent With Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris Along With Rickets

Rickets is an ossification and mineralization disorder of the growth plate before skeletal maturity that is peculiar to children and adolescents. Most children are affected by this deficient disorder throughout their skeletal growth stage, characterized by deformed and soft bones, due to a failure to assimilate and utilize calcium and phosphorus properly. It is most frequent in children aged four months to three years in developing countries. In the Indian subcontinent, it continues to be a major health problem. The majority of rickets symptoms include bone pain, deformity of the bones, and impaired growth velocity. In addition to damaging the skeletal system, it also affects other systems, which results in substantial morbidity. The term "rachitic pneumopathy" has long been used to describe respiratory issues caused by rickets. Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is an inflammatory rare skin disease that affects children as well as adults of all ages. They can develop PRP's clinical characteristics and individual prognoses are quite varied. Rickets occurring in association with skin diseases is rare. Here, we report an instance of a 15-year-old boy who gave a history of pain and swelling in the knees for the past three months. He couldn't bear weight and had walking difficulty as well. Along with this, he also complained of itchy lesions for nine years. Initially, the lesions were on the right arm, which progressed to the left arm, chest, back and abdomen. Later, they were seen on the lower limbs. After appropriate diagnostic work, he was diagnosed with rickets with pityriasis rubra pilaris. The patient received both medical and physical therapy treatment. The physical therapy rehabilitation program used in this case study significantly improved the patient's functional independence by reducing pain and improving joint mobility, muscle strength, endurance, and gait. After six weeks of rehabilitation, there was an improvement in the ranges of the joint, strength of muscle, gait, and functional independence significantly using physical therapy techniques. This case study shows the value of comprehensive physical therapy in a case of pityriasis rubra pilaris with rickets in a 15-year-old boy.