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Rickets
Why does rickets cause sweating?
Rickets is a chronic, nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions due to a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. It is primarily caused by a lack of vitamin D, which can increase neural excitability. Research shows that the vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, is not only an essential nutrient but also a precursor to hormones. It is potentially related to various cells including those in the thyroid, pancreas, stomach, brain, and those involved with calcium balance, as well as the immune, endocrine, reproductive systems, skin, and tumors. A deficiency in vitamin D can increase myocardial excitability and lead to symptoms like excessive sweating.
Nursing Measures for Children with Rickets
Rickets requires relevant home care. During the active phase of rickets, it is best to avoid early sitting, standing, and walking. For chest deformities, prone neck lifting and chest expansion exercises can be performed. For lower limb deformities, muscle massage can be done. For bow legs, massage the outer leg muscles and perform abductive and external rotation exercises after massaging both knee joints. For knock knees, massage the inner muscle group and perform internal rotation exercises after massaging both ankle joints. For posterior protrusion of the lumbar spine, massage the lumbosacral area and frequently lie prone to increase muscle tone, assisting in the recovery of deformities. For mild to moderate bow legs, it may be appropriate to slightly elevate the outside of the shoe by about 0.5 cm. For mild to moderate knock knees, it may be appropriate to slightly elevate the inside of the shoe by about 0.5 cm. Observe for one to three months and adjust the padding height as necessary, which generally can correct the condition. Additionally, children should be exposed to more outdoor sunlight and have a rich nutritional intake, including nutrient-rich proteins and dairy products to aid in recovery from the disease.
Can rickets be vaccinated against?
Children with rickets can be vaccinated, as rickets is not listed among the contraindications for vaccination. Rickets is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, a nutritional issue. Once diagnosed with rickets, it is essential to treat the child promptly by supplementing vitamin D. Generally, if treated early during infancy, rickets can be cured. To prevent rickets, all children should supplement with the physiological requirement of vitamin D from birth, engage in outdoor activities, and get ample sunlight to thoroughly prevent the occurrence of rickets. Rickets does not affect the administration of vaccines, nor does vaccination exacerbate the symptoms of rickets. Therefore, it is clear that children with rickets can be vaccinated.
If rickets is not treated, what will be the impact?
Rickets, if untreated, mainly involves changes in skeletal deformities and motor function in children. Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which is essential for promoting the absorption of calcium. A deficiency in vitamin D leads to reduced calcium absorption. Lower calcium absorption results in a calcium deficiency in the body, which in turn causes changes in the bones. In the early stages of vitamin D deficiency, the main symptoms are increased neural excitability, which may manifest as startle reactions, irritability, restlessness, and excessive sweating. During the active phase, symptoms of increased nervous system excitability become more pronounced, mainly presenting as skeletal deformities. What aspects do these skeletal deformities affect? One is the softening of the skull, pigeon chest, funnel chest, and changes resembling wristbands and anklets. If the condition worsens further, it can present as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and spinal deformities. Thus, if rickets progresses, it can lead to skeletal deformities and impairments in motor functions, among other issues.
Is a square skull definitely rickets?
Square skull is not necessarily rickets; square skull can be seen in rickets and congenital syphilis, especially common in rickets. It is often seen in children with rickets older than 8-9 months, due to a lack of calcium in the bones which leads to inadequate bone deposition and calcification. Under the periosteum of the child's frontal bone, parietal bone, and occipital bone, a large amount of osteoid deposition forms the square skull. Therefore, while square skull is not necessarily indicative of rickets, it is a common manifestation in rickets.
Does rickets have a hereditary component?
Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, is primarily a chronic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions, caused by insufficient vitamin D in infants, children, or adolescents, which leads to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The main feature of this disease is the incomplete calcification of the growth plates and bone tissue in the growing long bones, due to the lack of vitamin D causing incomplete calcification of mature bones. This disease is most common in children under two years old. Its causes may be related to insufficient intake of vitamin D or insufficient sunlight exposure, as well as rapid growth. Additionally, other diseases may influence its development. Therefore, this disease is generally not closely related to genetics.
How is rickets treated with injections?
Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions, caused by insufficient vitamin D in children, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The typical manifestation of rickets is incomplete mineralization of the growing long bone epiphyses and bone tissue, presenting as bone softening or deformity. Once rickets is diagnosed, it must be treated aggressively. First, children are given high doses of vitamin D, either orally or through intramuscular injection, with a common practice of administering a single dose of 300,000 units of vitamin D intramuscularly. A month later, a blood sample is taken to measure the vitamin D content; if it is below normal, treatment must continue; if it is within the normal range, it is only necessary to supplement the daily physiological requirement of vitamin D for the child. (Specific medication should be administered under the guidance of a physician.)
How to treat rickets in a 2-year-old baby?
Rickets in two-year-old infants is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D leading to a disturbance in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal skeletal development. This class of systemic, chronic, nutritional diseases typically manifests in two-year-olds who are able to walk and stand. Due to the force of gravity, lower limb deformities may develop, leading to bowlegs or knock-knees, and possibly even a 'K'-shaped limb deformity. The spine may also develop kyphosis or scoliosis. Around the age of two, it is generally the residual stage of the disease, which often does not require pharmacological treatment. For mild to moderate cases, physical exercise should be enhanced, and active or passive rehabilitation methods should be used to correct skeletal deformities. It is recommended to seek treatment in the pediatric rehabilitation department; severe skeletal deformities may require surgical correction.
How is rickets diagnosed?
Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which leads to a disruption in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal bone development. Typically, the initial symptoms of rickets are most commonly seen 2-3 months after birth. At this stage, affected children often show neurological symptoms such as excessive sweating unrelated to the season, irritability, particularly in infants under three months old who can become easily agitated, and exhibit straining as if constipated, but these are not specific symptoms of rickets. Early diagnosis generally requires specific tests such as blood biochemistry to check the levels of 125 dihydroxy vitamin D3, as well as calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, and to see if there is any change in serum alkaline phosphatase. The active phase is mainly characterized by skeletal changes, such as early signs of enlarged fontanelles or delayed closure, late teething, and sometimes a softening of the skull resembling a ping-pong ball, gradually leading to a square skull. Subsequently, changes like pigeon chest or noticeable deformities in the lower limbs such as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, or K-shaped legs may appear. Sometimes, there may also be curvature of the spine, with occasional scoliosis. These obvious skeletal changes make the condition more recognizable, though the initial presentations are not very typical, necessitating related biochemical blood tests.
How to treat rickets X-type legs?
If rickets presents with an X-shaped deformity, it generally indicates either an active phase of the disease or the residual phase. During this time, it is advisable to minimize the child's standing and walking at home. For lower limb deformities, muscle massages can be performed. For X-shaped legs, massage the inner muscle groups, followed by internal rotation exercises after massaging the double sliding joints. Typically, early treatment involves corrective rehabilitation techniques, and it is possible to visit a pediatric rehabilitation department for relevant manual treatments. If there is a significant skeletal deformity, surgical intervention may be necessary for correction.