Who gets Scoliosis

People of all ages can have scoliosis, but this booklet
focuses on children and adolescents. Of every 1,000
children, 3 to 5 develop spinal curves that are considered
large enough to need treatment. Adolescent idiopathic
scoliosis (scoliosis of unknown cause) is the most common
type and occurs after the age of 10. Girls are more likely
than boys to have this type of scoliosis. Because scoliosis
can run in families, a child who has a parent, brother, or
Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents
12sister with idiopathic scoliosis should be checked regularly
for scoliosis by the family doctor.
Idiopathic scoliosis can also occur in children younger than
10 years of age, but is very rare. Early onset or infantile
idiopathic scoliosis occurs in children younger than 3 years
old. It is more common in Europe than in the United States.
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis occurs in children between the
ages of 3 and 10.