Early manifestations of rickets
Rickets is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin D, which leads to a disorder in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal bone development. It primarily appears in the early stages in infants within six months old, and particularly within three months after birth. The initial presentation is an increase in nervous excitability, such as fussiness and unease in children, symptoms like excessive internal heat and sweating, especially more sweat on the head. Continuous sweating can lead to significant baldness at the back of the head. Sometimes, children may exhibit constant head shaking, but these are not very specific symptoms. Early detection involves decreased blood calcium and phosphorus levels, increased parathyroid hormone levels, and decreased levels of related markers in blood tests. Early bone X-rays appear normal, so initial symptoms are not so typical. Therefore, it is recommended that infants be taken to a pediatrician for a physical examination as soon as possible, where their developmental status can be assessed and rickets can be diagnosed. If it is early-stage vitamin D deficiency rickets, timely supplementation of vitamin D levels can be an effective cure.