Forgotten and found: A case of childhood rickets in the 19th-century settler village of Heuvelton, New York.
Int J Paleopathol
; 40: 77-86, 2023 03.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36621088
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate pathological lesions suggesting the presence of rickets and to place the diagnosis into bioarchaeological and historical context. MATERIALS The remains of a 3-year ± 12-month-old child discovered during a rescue excavation in Heuvelton, New York.METHODS:
We examined the individual macroscopically and conducted a differential diagnosis following established protocols in the palaeopathological literature.RESULTS:
Bony change on the orbits, mandible, ribs, clavicles, left scapula, humerii, radii, ulnae, femora, tibiae, fibulae (e.g., porosity, diaphyseal thickening, flaring, bowing), and dental lesions were recorded.CONCLUSIONS:
We demonstrate that the child likely presented with vitamin D deficiency rickets during crawling and as they learned to walk.SIGNIFICANCE:
This example offers an important contribution to the bioarchaeological literature, as few cases of rickets have been recorded in rural North America using updated diagnostic criteria and little is known of the health and lifeways of early settlers in 19th-century upstate New York.LIMITATIONS:
It is not possible to ascertain the precise aetiology of this child's rachitic state and to compare this individual with others in the population. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Examination (and re-assessment) of other North and South American skeletal assemblages for signs of vitamin D deficiency rickets following current bioarchaeological standards.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Raquitismo
/
Deficiencia de Vitamina D
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
Límite:
Child
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Paleopathol
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article