Identification

• Anyone can get scoliosis. However, it usually is found in girls between the ages of eight and ten. In most cases, there is no known cause, but genetics may play a role. There are other diseases that also cause the spine to curve in a way similar to scoliosis. In the early stages, it may be mild, but the condition can worsen as the child grows.
  
  

Outward Physical Signs

• If you or your child has scoliosis, there may be one hip or shoulder that looks higher then the other. The head may not look centered. In some cases, one shoulder blade sticks out more then the other, or the ribs appear to be higher on one side when bending forward. In addition, the body may lean to one side.
  
  

Other Symptoms

• In adults with scoliosis or in later stages of the disease, you may experience back pain and difficulty breathing. The changes in your spine may also limit your mobility. This can occur in cases where the vertebrae rotate and crowd the ribs on one side and separate them on the other side.
  
  

Complications

• If the curvature becomes severe, it can cause the rib cage to become misshaped. This reduces the amount of air your lungs can take in, and it forces the heart to pump harder to get the blood through the smaller space. If this continues, the result can be heart failure.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Children should be checked for scoliosis by a trained medical provider. Changes in the body may also be noticed through clothes that no longer seem to fit right or by a hem line looks crooked.
  
  

Treatment

• If the scoliosis is severe enough, bracing is the usual form of treatment. In rare cases, surgery may be required to correct the problem.