[Rickets in Asian immigrants]

Although rickets is considered to have practically disappeared in developed countries, there is increasing evidence of widespread vitamin D deficiency among immigrants. Many studies report rickets and osteomalacia in Asian infants, adolescents and pregnant women moving to developed countries with a cooler climate. The etiopathogenesis of this disorder of calcium and D vitamin metabolism depend mainly on environmental and sociocultural factors, associated with low exposure to sunlight and low calcium intake, among other dietary factors. Given the recent increase in the number of immigrants to Spain, the prevention and treatment of this disease in Asian children and adolescents should be reviewed.