Symptoms and signs of rickets in a child

Rickets in children, also called osteomalacia, is a disease of the osseous system, which is primarily caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. Its deficiency inhibits the growth and development of bones in the process of their formation. Vitamin D regulates levels of phosphorus and calcium - vital nutrients for the development of bones in the body. With its lack, these substances are not absorbed from the food properly. This causes softening of the bones, which leads to their deformation.

When the first symptoms and signs of rickets develop in a child

Children aged 6 months to 24 months who do not get enough vitamin D are most prone to rickets. Vitamin D is present in vitaminized milk, seafood, beef liver and eggs. The skin also produces vitamin D when it absorbs sunlight. Although rickets associated with poor nutrition are very rare today, this is still a problem for children in underdeveloped countries. This is due to the fact that they usually do not have access to foods high in vitamin D.

Causes

The risk of vitamin D deficiency is higher for dark-skinned children, and those who do not receive enough sunlight do not consume milk and dairy products. Infants whose main source of nutrition is breast milk are also at risk because it does not contain vitamin D. Thus, it is very important for the nursing mother to give the child extra vitamin D, and also not to miss symptoms and signs of rickets in the baby in the initial stage . Children can also inherit rickets in the form of kidney disease, which is not able to maintain a normal level of phosphate. Some kidney diseases that lead to high levels of acid in the urine can also cause rickets in children. In rare cases, it can cause some liver disease.

What is rickets in children?

Symptoms and signs of rickets in a child may include softening of bones that can flex and break easily. The baby may have pain in the arms, legs and back. In addition, there are: stunted growth, curved legs and arms, curvature of the spine, an increase in the forehead, an enlarged abdomen, a deformity of the teeth, an irregular shape of the thorax and muscle spasms. A child who suffers from skull deformity may experience seizures and mental abnormalities due to brain underdevelopment.

Treatment

The treatment is mainly aimed at alleviating the symptoms and depends on the cause of the disease. If the cause is malnutrition, then you need to correct it, additionally take vitamin D and calcium, plus consume more sea and dairy products. Parents also need to make sure that their children receive enough sunlight. Rickets in a child, caused by diseases of the kidneys and liver, requires special (directed) treatment of the underlying disease.

Complications

If you do not pay attention to the signs of rickets in a child in early childhood, it can lead to irreversible skeletal anomalies. This means that the child will not be able to achieve normal growth and will lag behind in physical and mental development. Surgical intervention, while the bone system was still under development, can also help in neutralizing some deformations of the skeleton.