I have an eight year old student who complains that his bones hurt...?

Question

Everyday he cries that his feet hurt and his bones ache. His mother (I can hardly call her that, I'm shaking right now) refuses to take him to a doctor because a relative of hers had the same problems and now he is in a wheel chair. She says she can't stand to hear the doctor tell her that her little boy has the same problem! Can someone please tell me what this could be (she doesn't know the name of the illness) and what I could do to help out? Besides grabbing that woman's head and beating it against the wall?

I just found out about this today, and I live in Greece, where child well fare is non existant almost...I intend to call them as soon as it's morning. But I wanted to know what this illness could be.

Answer 1

Yes it could be growing pains, which I don't recall having; but more serious it could be Rickets.

Rickets is a bone problem that affects children. It happens when your child's bones do not form correctly. Rickets can make your child's bones hurt, and the bones can bend and break easily.

Children can inherit rickets from a parent. Sometimes it relates to what your child eats. This is called nutritional rickets. It can happen when your child doesn't get enough vitamin D and calcium to make strong bones. The body also needs sunlight to make vitamin D. If your child has dark skin and does not spend much time in the sun, he or she may get rickets.

If your child was born early or has certain illnesses, such as kidney or intestinal disease, he or she has a higher risk of getting rickets. Young babies with rickets can be fussy and have soft skulls. Infants and toddlers may not develop, walk, or grow well. Older children may have bone pain and bowed legs, or their wrists and knees may get wider.

Your doctor will ask about your family health history and your child's health and diet. Your child will need a full physical exam. Blood tests and x-rays of the arms or legs can help your doctor tell if your child has rickets.

Treatment depends on the type of rickets your child has. Your doctor will find out why your child has rickets and treat the cause. Nutritional rickets is treated with vitamin D and calcium. If your child has inherited rickets or has an illness causing the problem, a doctor who specializes in rickets may need to help.

Be sure your child gets enough vitamin D and calcium. Your doctor will tell you if your child needs extra vitamin D or calcium. If you have a young baby whose only food is breast milk, your doctor may prescribe medicine with vitamin D. If your baby gets just over 16 ounces of formula per day, he or she will need extra vitamin D.

Your doctor can also tell you if your older child needs more vitamin D or calcium. Your doctor will tell you about how much time in the sun is safe for your child. To make sure your child is getting enough vitamin D, you should feed your older child foods that are high in calcium, such as milk, cheese, and salad greens.

American Academy of Family Physicians
Web site: http://familydoctor.org

American Academy of Pediatrics
Web site: http://www.aap.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov

Answer 2

The other relative probably had rheumatoid arthritis, is difficult to say on the basis of info provided.
Child needs a check up to diagnose properly the problem. You may tell the mom, burying head in the sand doesn't save the ostrich from the storm.
Good luck!

Answer 3

Please don't beat woman's head against the wall. She really needs sympathy and counsilling.
Child might be having growing pains.
The other relative probably had rheumatoid arthritis, is difficult to say on the basis of info provided.
Child needs a check up to diagnose properly the problem. You may tell the mom, burying head in the sand doesn't save the ostrich from the storm.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Have the school nurse see him, and I'm thinking, the nurse could give mom a note that she has to take him to dr. in so many days. If she doesn't then report it to child protective services, for neglecting child. Sometimes, moms know their kids better than anyone else, My son used to complain of foot pains over, and over, and over. Until, I took him to his doctor, which, found nothing wrong. Then, months later he complained again and again, took him back to his doc, he send him to specialist, nothing wrong again. I bought him arch supports and that solved the problem. I think the doc on here could be right. They might just be growth pains. I would talk to mom and nurse first.

Answer 5

Yes turn it into child services. The lady doesn't sound fit to be a mother . You being a teacher should really already know this, as i am a teacher as well.
If you don't know how to tell the proper authorities, then tell the school principal. He or she will direct you on what to do.
It coudl be a variety of disease including leukemia or multiple sclorosis amongst others.

Answer 6

It doesn't matter (for you) what disease this could be. You let the doctors worry about that. Your job is just to get the kid to the doctors. Call child protective services, like other people have suggested.

Answer 7

Ask his mother if she cares about her sons life more or her sons physical appearance.Shes not a mother.Her kid needs urgent help.I don't think its a big problem but his mother needs to send him to a doctor.Here in Albania we are having strict rules about this problems right now.If this case happens the mother goes to jail

Answer 8

if you are a teacher then you are obligated to report this to the authorities. a parent refusing to get medical attention for a child is abuse.

your ignoring this and just being mad at the mother is also abuse.

stop letting the abuse happen and get the boy some help.

Answer 9

could be growing pains..i had them growing up and my legs hurt so bad i would cry (at night especially)..either way she needs to get this poor child to a dr. thats pathetic that she hasnt taken him yet..

Answer 10

Call child welfare, she failing to provide needed medical attention.