osteoporosis in children is rare. it's usually the result of a chronic health condition such as asthma or cystic fibrosis that is treated with long-term corticosteroid medications. anticonvulsant drugs used to manage epilepsy bipolar disorder and other conditions may also interfere with calcium and vitamin d metabolism leading to weak bones. treatment usually depends on controlling the underlying disease or changing the medication. sometimes children will develop osteoporosis with no clear cause. it's called idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis and the good news is that it usually goes away on its own within two to four years. of course calcium and vitamin d are the most important nutrients for strong bones and are important for all children whether they have osteoporosis or not. even if children are healthy now low levels of calcium and vitamin d can greatly increase their risk of osteoporosis later in life. so keep track of how much calcium your children get from food and ensure they get adequate amounts of vitamin d. if they aren't getting enough supplements may be an option. but never give your child a supplement without talking to your doctor first.
does osteoporosis affect children and do they need calcium supplements?