Osteoporosis in Children

Osteoporosis weakens your child’s bones. And it increases their risk for fractures. It can be silent. You may not know your child has it — until they barely fall, yet still break a bone. Other times, this condition has telltale signs like:

• Hip pain.
• Lower back pain.
• Sore feet.
• Walking problems.
• Spinal problems.

Often, underlying medical conditions can cause osteoporosis in children. Some of these are:

• Brittle bones (osteogenesis imperfecta).
• Celiac disease.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Eating disorders.
• Juvenile arthritis.
• Pediatric kidney disease.
• Klinefelter syndrome.
• Metabolism problems.
• Turner syndrome.

Some medications can also trigger osteoporosis, like corticosteroids or antiseizure drugs. Osteoporosis may also surface if your child doesn’t get enough calcium or vitamin D in their diet.

Other times, osteoporosis in children may be idiopathic. This means there’s no known reason your child has it. Idiopathic osteoporosis in children often shows up in the tween and teen years, usually between ages 8 to 14. And it often goes away by adulthood.

What to expect at your first visit

When your child comes to their first appointment, their provider will take time to get to know them. They’ll ask a lot of questions about your child’s symptoms (if they have any) and both their and your family’s medical histories.

They’ll give your child a physical exam and order tests to confirm a diagnosis and pinpoint any underlying causes. Your child may have:

• Blood tests.
• Bone density test.
• X-rays of their skeleton.

Meet Our Osteoporosis in Children Team

Osteoporosis in children can have many different causes. We make sure your child has a team of providers from all the specialties they need. Our team works together to personalize every aspect of your child’s care. Their team may have:

• Pediatricians.
• Pediatric orthopaedists.
• Pediatric rheumatologists.
• Pediatric endocrinologists.
• Pediatric nephrologists.
• Pediatric gastroenterologists.
• Child life specialists.
• Pediatric dietitians.
• Pediatric physical therapists.
• Pediatric occupational therapists.
• Pediatric geneticists.

Your child’s osteoporosis treatment plan hinges on what’s causing their weak bones. Their care team will treat both osteoporosis and any underlying cause. Common treatments for bone health are:

Medications and supplements

Your child may need to take a prescription medication that helps strengthen their bones (bisphosphonates). We may also recommend they take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Your child may also take medications to treat underlying conditions like kidney disease, hormone problems and more.

Nutritional plans

We may have you and your child work with a pediatric dietitian to create a meal plan aimed at helping them get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diet. This can help improve your child’s bone health.

Physical and occupational therapy

Exercise is a terrific way to strengthen your child’s bones and all the soft tissues connected to them. At physical and occupational therapy sessions, we’ll help your child find the best ways to move and exercise to help them prevent fractures.

When Your Child’s Living With Osteoporosis

When your child has osteoporosis, they’ll have regular checkups with their care team. They’ll also have frequent testing to check their bone health and to see if they have any new fractures. And they’ll meet with specialty providers who can treat any underlying conditions. If your child needs to manage their condition into adulthood, we’re here to help them easily move to the next stage of care with providers at Cleveland Clinic.

Taking the Next Step

Osteoporosis isn’t a diagnosis you probably expected to hear when you took your little one in for a checkup. Now that you have answers, you’ll want them to get the best care. Cleveland Clinic Children’s is here for your child — and your family. From highly personalized treatment to ongoing support, you can count on us for expert, compassionate care.