noun
Medical term for the disease rickets, a childhood bone disorder caused by vitamin D deficiency.
See also: くる病
くる病はビタミンD不足で起こる。
Rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiency.
noun
person with rickets; hunchback
Refers to a person suffering from rickets, often with a hunched back. This usage is dated and may be considered insensitive today.
昔の小説には、くると呼ばれる人物が登場することがある。
In old novels, a character called a 'hunchback' sometimes appears.
くる病 is the full term for rickets, while くる alone is an abbreviation or refers to a person with the condition.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 佝僂 and 痀瘻 are rare and likely chosen for their meanings related to physical deformity, but the word itself may be of native Japanese origin.