Rickets in children

Rickets is a disease in which absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract is impaired in the body, which leads to a disruption of the mineralization of bone tissue. This disease helps deform the bones, they become soft and brittle. The term "rickets" refers to children, because in childhood, bone growth is very susceptible to all kinds of changes. In particular, this disease affects infants and children under 4 years. This is due to the rapid growth and development of the bone system. Depending on age and lack of vitamin D, there are two types of rickets - rickets in children (rickets infantilis) and late rickets (rickets Tarda), found in adolescents. In adults, the lack of vitamin D and calcium causes diseases such as osteoporosis or osteomalacia.

The most common cause of rickets is a lack of vitamin D, which causes violations of calcium absorption in the intestine and its low amount in the blood. In addition, vitamin deficiency adversely affects the excessive release of phosphate in the urine. The entire imbalance of the process in the assimilation of calcium affects the decalcification of bones and, thus, the early signs of rickets are revealed . Vitamin D in the human body comes from two sources. In the first case, it is synthesized in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, in the second - it comes along with food. Vitamin D, both endogenous or produced in the body, and exogenous - supplied with food, has no biological effect. Only after chemical changes in the liver, and then in the kidneys, it turns into an active form. Vitamin D is necessary for proper calcium-phosphate metabolism.

In the first stages of the disease, rickets in children is manifested through excessive sweating of the nape of the baby during feeding or sleep. The compaction of the bones of the head, especially at the back of the head, and also the long open fontanel, indicate a lack of vitamin D. Other symptoms include a delay in teething, an enlarged liver and spleen, a decrease in the circumference of the chest. In addition, rickets in children leads to a number of deformations of the skeleton (the so-called cranial bumps, ricket bracelets or rosary) and legs. Appear curvature in the chest and flat feet. At the same time, these changes are irreversible, despite subsequent treatment. Slackness of the muscles affects the motor development of the child, there is bloating and constipation. In addition to an insufficient amount of vitamin D, there is a deficiency of calcium and phosphate. This usually occurs when the baby is fed cow's milk, in which excess phosphate prevents the absorption of calcium.

Lack of vitamin is found in premature and fast-growing children, as well as in twins or twins. Rickets can occur in children who have received anticonvulsant drugs, who suffer from diarrhea or diseases of absorption disorders.

It should be remembered that the prevention of rickets is important even during pregnancy. In the diet of the future mother must necessarily be fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, butter, eggs, lean meat and sea fish. It is also important to be out in the fresh air more often.

A doctor can not diagnose rickets in children, simply by observing a small patient. To do this, you need to make a biochemical blood test, and if necessary, make an x-ray of the bones. Treatment of rickets is the use of vitamin D in certain doses. The daily norm of vitamin D3 is administered from 3 weeks of age to children born with normal weight and breastfed. It is 500 IU, which corresponds to two drops of vitamin D3. It should be remembered that one should not give the baby a vitamin at higher doses than prescribed by the doctor, because an overdose can lead to kidney damage and lead to poisoning.