Can rickets be vaccinated against?

Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

Updated on November 11, 2024

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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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

1min 24sec

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Rickets Causes

Rickets, fully termed as nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets, is a chronic systemic nutritional disease characterized by epiphyseal lesions, caused by insufficient vitamin D in children, leading to disordered calcium and phosphate metabolism. The main causes of the disease include insufficient perinatal vitamin D, particularly during the prenatal and postnatal periods, as well as factors like severe maternal malnutrition, liver and kidney diseases, chronic diarrhea, prematurity, and having twins, which may lead to inadequate levels of vitamin D storage in the body. Additionally, insufficient sunlight exposure, such as children spending prolonged periods indoors, blocks sunlight, as ultraviolet rays cannot pass through glass. Ultraviolet light aids in the synthesis of endogenous vitamin D; lack of exposure can also reduce vitamin D levels. Another factor is rapid growth rates, and fourthly, insufficient dietary supplementation of vitamin D along with some diseases that affect the absorption of vitamin D, like gastrointestinal or liver and biliary diseases.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

1min 24sec

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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.

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Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

55sec

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Should I take vitamin D or D3 for rickets?

Rickets should be treated with D3, but strictly speaking, what we commonly refer to as vitamin D is D3, just phrased differently. Vitamin D3 helps promote the absorption of calcium by bones, preventing the occurrence of rickets symptoms. The main clinical manifestations of rickets appear in the deformation of bones, such as square skull, pigeon chest, flaring ribs, X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and other changes in bone status. The nervous system can show symptoms such as night sweats, nervous excitability, balding at the back of the head, poor sleep quality, and easiness to cry. For rickets, it is necessary to diagnose early, timely supplement with vitamin D to prevent symptoms from worsening, and also to get more sunlight and engage in outdoor activities, which helps the body synthesize vitamin D and absorb calcium.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

57sec

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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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

1min 53sec

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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.