Diagnosis of Osteoporosis in Children and Adolescents

Osteoporosis is traditionally regarded as a disease of elderly women. However, this bone disorder occurs in patients of both sexes and of all ages and is also increasingly recognised in the paediatric setting. In particular, patients, including young children, with other chronic diseases are at risk of developing bone fragility. There are also several forms of hereditary osteoporosis, which should be identified at an early stage to ensure adequate treatment. The diagnosis of osteoporosis in children is challenging, since their bone mineral density (BMD) is affected by growth and pubertal development. In addition to low BMD, a child must also exhibit a significant proneness to fractures before the osteoporosis diagnosis can be made. Through early diagnosis and treatment for paediatric bone fragility, we can also ameliorate bone health in adulthood. In this article we review the aetiology, known risk factors and the diagnostic criteria of osteoporosis in the young.