Early symptoms of rickets

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 20, 2024
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Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease primarily caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D, which leads to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, resulting in abnormal bone development. It is mostly seen in infants, especially common within the first six months, and particularly in babies younger than three months. Clinically, the symptoms are not very specific; the children may appear irritable and restless, they might cry suddenly, or become agitated and restless to the touch. Some children may exhibit excessive sweating, frequent head shaking, or even hair loss, leading to noticeable baldness at the back of the head. However, these symptoms are not very specific. Generally, blood biochemistry and Vitamin D levels need to be tested. Early X-ray findings of the bones can be normal.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Early symptoms of rickets

Rickets is a chronic systemic nutritional disease caused by insufficient vitamin D in the body, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, characterized by skeletal lesions, typically presenting as incomplete mineralization of the long bones' growth plates and bone tissue. In the early stages of rickets, skeletal development abnormalities are not very obvious. Infants under three months often exhibit signs of increased neural excitability, such as being prone to crying, sweating easily, and potentially frequent head shaking; however, these symptoms are not necessarily specific to rickets. Generally, at this time, there are no obvious abnormalities in skeletal development, and X-rays of the bones are normal. The focus is on vitamin levels, specifically decreased serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, as well as reduced blood calcium and phosphorus levels. Therefore, early symptoms are not so typical. It is recommended that children regularly visit pediatric clinics for physical examinations to assess their development and, if necessary, undergo trace element and vitamin D level checks.

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

Early symptoms of rickets

Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease primarily caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D, which leads to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, resulting in abnormal bone development. It is mostly seen in infants, especially common within the first six months, and particularly in babies younger than three months. Clinically, the symptoms are not very specific; the children may appear irritable and restless, they might cry suddenly, or become agitated and restless to the touch. Some children may exhibit excessive sweating, frequent head shaking, or even hair loss, leading to noticeable baldness at the back of the head. However, these symptoms are not very specific. Generally, blood biochemistry and Vitamin D levels need to be tested. Early X-ray findings of the bones can be normal.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
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What is the treatment method for rickets?

Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which results in abnormal skeletal development—a type of systemic nutritional disease. The most common form is nutritional rickets due to a deficiency in nutrients and vitamin D. Treatment focuses on controlling the active phase to prevent relapse of deformities. Therefore, early detection and comprehensive treatment are crucial. The primary treatment method involves supplementing with vitamin D. The choice of vitamin D, the dosage, and the length of treatment generally need to be tailored to the specific circumstances of the child. Additionally, increased exposure to sunlight and appropriate outdoor activities should be encouraged to enhance the absorption of vitamin D. Children should also be supplemented with calcium and a variety of vitamins. Follow-ups during the recovery phase are necessary, and training in sitting, standing, and walking should not be started too early to avoid deformities in the lower limbs. Furthermore, no medication is needed during the residual stage of the disease. For mild to moderate cases, physical exercise should be intensified, and skeletal deformities can be corrected using active or passive exercises. Severe skeletal deformities may require surgical correction.