How is rickets diagnosed?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal changes, resulting from insufficient Vitamin D in children, which leads to disruptions in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Diagnosis of rickets requires a measure of Vitamin D levels, clinical manifestations, certain biochemical markers in blood, and skeletal X-ray findings. Typically, Vitamin D levels are significantly lower than usual, with the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 being the most reliable diagnostic standard. However, many facilities are unable to perform this test, so some instead rely on blood biochemistry and skeletal X-rays. Currently, blood biochemistry and skeletal X-ray examinations are considered the gold standard for diagnosis.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 22sec home-news-image

Can rickets be treated?

Rickets is a disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, leading to impaired calcium and phosphorus absorption, which then results in abnormal skeletal development. It is a chronic nutritional disease. Generally, the rickets commonly mentioned is due to nutritional vitamin D deficiency, which is treatable. Typically, encouraging children to engage in appropriate physical activities while supplementing with an adequate level of vitamin D can effectively control the disease, and it can even be cured. However, if there are special circumstances, such as significant liver abnormalities, renal function abnormalities, renal failure, or abnormalities in the thyroid or parathyroid glands, including parathyroid tumors, or congenital hereditary diseases, the treatment needs to be based on the cause in order to effectively control the disease and promote normal calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body. Congenital hereditary diseases generally make treatment more challenging. Therefore, it is crucial for children with rickets to seek timely medical examination at a hospital. If it is a common case of nutritional vitamin D deficiency, parents should supplement vitamin D promptly according to the doctor's advice for treatment.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Rickets is a deficiency of what?

Rickets is caused by a deficiency of what? For rickets, its main gold standard for diagnosis is based on the results of blood biochemistry and skeletal X-ray examinations. Generally, the deficiency in rickets is mainly due to insufficient levels of vitamin D, which then leads to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Typically, this is characterized by low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the body, along with decreased levels of blood calcium and phosphorus, manifesting as deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. However, in children, rickets could also be caused by other factors, such as abnormalities in liver or kidney function, or congenital hereditary diseases. Generally, further tests are needed to confirm rickets. If other special causes are ruled out, timely supplementation of vitamin D and appropriate exposure to sunlight, along with calcium supplementation, can effectively cure the disease.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 26sec home-news-image

Can rickets be cured?

The rickets we commonly talk about is nutritional Vitamin D deficiency rickets, which is due to a deficiency of Vitamin D in the body leading to a disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. This results in a systemic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions. If rickets is caused by insufficient intake, it can be self-healing and is a self-limiting disease. Once infants and young children spend enough time outdoors and receive physiological doses of Vitamin D treatment, rickets can be treated. However, treatment becomes significantly challenging in cases of congenital developmental abnormalities causing skeletal lesions, or any genetic diseases that lead to Vitamin D absorption disorders. Such cases often result in severe complications, including prominent kidney dysfunction leading to further disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, as well as liver function abnormalities causing Vitamin D synthesis disorders. Therefore, it is important to understand the specific causes of Vitamin D deficiency in children, and if the deficiency is due to common reasons that can be promptly controlled, then supplementation with Vitamin D and trace elements like calcium can effectively treat the condition.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 11sec home-news-image

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.)

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Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
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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.