[Osteoporosis in children]

Osteoporosis is defined as a bone disorder with low bone mass and altered bone quality leading to fractures. In adult patients as a reference point for its diagnosis peak bone mass reached in second decade of life is utilized. In children the mean values of age matched control group are used as a reference point for diagnosis of osteoporosis. As a critical value two standard deviations below the reference values of the control group in children are used. Interpretation of the densitometric measurements in children is more complicated than in adults because of heterogeneity of the skeleton and continuous growth of children. Obtained results are affected by age, sex, body mass, height, bone age, environmental factors and illnesses. Osteoporosis in children is observed primary symptom in osteogenesis imperfecta and idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis.