[Deficiency rickets in an adolescent girl].

The authors report the case of a 14 year-old adolescent girl presenting with rickets due to vitamin D deficiency. This rare condition has already been described in young immigrants coming from Asia and North Africa. Most often, symptoms consist of diffuse pains, with radiologic signs of skeletal demineralization and/or signs of bone resorption. Evolution is favourable under vitamin treatment. This condition seems to be induced by an increased requirement for vitamin D at time of adolescent growth spurt. It is promoted by the lack of sunlight and the skin pigmentation. It is likely that a number of these deficiencies are undiagnosed and recover spontaneously.