noun
rickets; rachitis
Medical term for the childhood bone disease caused by vitamin D deficiency.
くる病はビタミンD不足で起こる。
Rickets occurs due to vitamin D deficiency.
昔は日本でもくる病が多かった。
In the past, rickets was common in Japan as well.
Osteomalacia, the adult equivalent of rickets; both involve softening of bones due to vitamin D deficiency.
The term くる (kuru) is of uncertain origin, possibly from a mimetic word describing a bent or crooked state. The kanji 佝僂 and 痀瘻 are ateji assigned later for their meanings related to hunchback or rickets.