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Rickets
Which department should I go to for rickets?
Rickets is a nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and resulting in abnormal bone development. During the early and active stages, the X-ray shows no obvious abnormalities in bone development; it is primarily a conceptual metabolic disorder along with low levels of vitamin D. At this time, it is advisable to consult an endocrinology department. If there are sequelae and mild to moderate sequelae, rehabilitation methods are needed for correction, and at this point, a rehabilitation department should be consulted. If there are severe skeletal deformities, surgical correction may be necessary, and at this time, an orthopedic department should be consulted.
Can people with rickets swim?
Rickets is a metabolic disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, and its clinical manifestations primarily include symptoms in infants such as a square skull, night sweats, pigeon chest, eversion of the rib cage, as well as bowlegs or knock-knees. Severe cases can lead to skeletal deformities in the chest and developmental disorders. Therefore, for the treatment of children with rickets, it is necessary to intake vitamin D and calcium to promote bone development. Swimming is also a form of exercise that can enhance the absorption of calcium by the bones, which can help prevent the progression of rickets. It is also important to engage in outdoor activities and expose to sunlight, as vitamin D can be synthesized through sun exposure, effectively supplementing it. If a child's symptoms of rickets are relatively severe, it is advisable to take the child to a specialist hospital for a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test and supplement vitamin D based on the specific results.
The difference between rickets and rib flare
Rickets and rib flaring are different; rib flaring can be considered a symptom of rickets. Rickets is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in infants and children, leading to abnormal metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, which results in incomplete calcification and softening of the bones, thereby causing skeletal deformities. Rickets can be divided into initial, active, recovery, and sequelae stages. During the active stage of rickets, skeletal deformities such as softened skull, "ping pong" head, square skull, rib flaring, pigeon chest, funnel chest, X-shaped legs, and O-shaped legs are prone to occur.
How should children with rickets supplement calcium?
Rickets is a nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which results in abnormal bone development. It is mainly due to a lack of vitamin D, so the primary treatment is supplementing with vitamin D. Dairy is a reliable source of calcium nutrition for infants, and generally, it is not necessary to supplement calcium for the treatment of rickets; attention should be paid to supplementing with vitamin D according to the severity of the condition, and spending more time in the sun. For children who have started eating complementary foods, or older children, it is generally recommended to fully supplement vitamin D levels, spend more time in the sun during summer, and consume high-protein nutrients. Additionally, eating more vegetables and appropriately supplementing with calcium supplements in the winter is advised. The dosage should be based on the child's internal levels of calcium and phosphorus, with calcium supplementation adjusted accordingly.
Does rickets affect development and intelligence?
Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D and mainly affects normal growth and development, with very little to no impact on intelligence. In the early stages of rickets, symptoms mainly include irritability, restlessness, and excessive sweating at night. The body primarily exhibits symptoms such as sweating, night terrors, and irritability, with symptoms becoming significantly more pronounced. During this period, the main manifestations are skeletal deformities, which vary in different age groups. For example, there can be softening of the skull, as well as pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, and X-shaped or O-shaped legs. In severe cases, spinal deformities may also occur.
Will rickets lead to hunchback when grown up?
Rickets generally does not result in hunchback when one grows up, as rickets is a disease caused by a vitamin D deficiency leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. If not cured before development is completed, it often leaves sequelae such as square skull, Harrison's groove, beaded ribs, as well as bow legs, knock knees, and pigeon chest. However, hunchback is mainly caused by developmental deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and is not greatly related to a lack of vitamin D. However, it is also important to note that a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis, and if one does not maintain proper posture in daily life, such as bending the back while sitting, standing, or walking and not being able to stand straight, it may eventually lead to pathological curvature of the spine and thoracic vertebrae. Therefore, in daily life, it is still important to be conscious of using one’s lumbar and thoracic spine correctly to avoid developing a hunchback over time.
Rickets is caused by a deficiency of what element?
Rickets is a systemic chronic nutritional disease caused by vitamin D deficiency leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, which results in abnormal bone development. The main cause is a lack of vitamin D, generally related to feeding methods, the addition of cod liver oil, living environment, outdoor activity time, repeated respiratory infections, calcium deficiency during pregnancy, and the season of birth. It is generally recommended to routinely supplement vitamin D and cod liver oil after birth, have regular follow-ups, engage in appropriate outdoor activities, and during pregnancy, it is important to supplement with adequate calcium and vitamin D. Additionally, attention should be paid to children who have repeated respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, as these can also affect the absorption of vitamin D and calcium and phosphorus. Thus, it is vital to actively prevent other diseases that may affect the absorption of vitamin D and to treat illnesses proactively when they occur.
Can rickets be cured?
Rickets refers to a nutritional disease characterized by bone lesions caused by disorders in calcium and phosphorus metabolism due to a deficiency of vitamin D in the body. The primary treatment for rickets involves early detection and comprehensive treatment at an early stage, which is crucial. The general treatment goal is to control the active phase, prevent deformities, and avoid recurrence. Nutritional rickets due to a deficiency of vitamin D is a self-limiting disease; it can be cured once infants and young children engage in sufficient outdoor activities and supplement with vitamin D. Early detection of low vitamin D levels or abnormalities in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, along with early proactive intervention, can prevent the occurrence of skeletal deformities. If sequelae are present, there is no need for medication; mild to moderate cases should strengthen physical exercise, and skeletal deformities can be corrected through active or passive rehabilitation movements. Severe skeletal deformities can be corrected through surgical treatment.
Is pillow baldness rickets?
Balding at the back of the head is a common clinical manifestation of rickets, but it does not mean that balding at the back of the head is equivalent to rickets, as there are many causes for this condition. In children with rickets, due to a lack of vitamin D leading to calcium deficiency, their neural excitability increases, which can affect the baby's sleep and cause restless sleep leading to balding at the back of the head. However, children who are in poor nutritional condition might also experience deficiencies in trace elements, such as a lack of zinc or iron, which can also lead to sleep disturbances and balding at the back of the head, indicating that the cause may not necessarily be rickets. Additionally, a small number of children might have an inherent condition of increased neural excitability that affects sleep, leading to balding at the back of the head, which also isn't due to rickets. Therefore, if balding at the back of the head occurs, it is advisable to visit a hospital’s pediatric healthcare department or pediatric outpatient clinic for a consultation and check-up, to actively treat and manage based on the underlying cause.
Can rickets be treated by injection?
Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, leading to a disturbance in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which results in abnormal bone development. It is a systemic nutritional and chronic disease. The main treatment is to supplement a sufficient dosage of vitamin D, generally administered orally. The choice of vitamin D formulation, dosage, duration of treatment, whether it is administered once or multiple times, and whether supplementation is oral or intramuscular, should be determined based on the specific situation of the child. Relevant tests are generally required, and the doctor will develop a treatment plan based on the child's condition. The route of administration should also be decided based on the condition of the disease.