The difference between rickets and dwarfism.

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
Updated on November 21, 2024
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Rickets is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in infants and young children, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and resulting in skeletal abnormalities as a characteristic of this chronic nutritional disease. Typical symptoms can include changes in the bones, especially in the fastest growing parts of the skeleton, and can affect muscle development and changes in neural excitability. Symptoms such as a "ping pong ball" head, square skull, pigeon chest, funnel chest, and eversion of the rib margins are also observed. Diagnosis is made through examinations such as vitamin D levels and skeletal X-rays. Dwarfism, on the other hand, is a growth disorder caused by a deficiency of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland before puberty. Its clinical manifestations are primarily growth disturbances, characterized by a short, proportionate stature. Adults with this condition often retain a child-like appearance, and their bone development is delayed with bone age younger than their chronological age. Intellect corresponds to their age, and sexual development may also be disrupted.

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Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
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What foods should not be eaten with rickets?

Patients with rickets should not eat some cereal foods, such as millet, rice, wheat, corn, and other foods. Cereal foods also contain vitamin D and calcium, and eating too much of these foods can exacerbate the disease. Patients with rickets should eat more light, low-fat, and easily digestible foods. They should control the intake of high-fat content daily and avoid eating stimulating and spicy foods. At the same time, they should increase their intake of vitamins, encourage the child to eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure an adequate supply of vitamins, and patients can also exercise more. More physical activity can help boost the immune system.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What are the symptoms of rickets?

The condition generally referred to as rickets is most commonly nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets, a type of nutritional disease that is prevalent among infants and young children, particularly very young babies. It primarily manifests as changes in the bones where growth is most rapid and can also affect muscle development and changes in nervous excitability. Initially, especially within the first three months, symptoms in very young infants typically include increased nervous excitability, such as crying easily, excessive head sweating, and as a result of the sweating, frequent head shaking, irritability, restlessness, and noticeable crying and restlessness at night. These symptoms at this stage are not necessarily indicative of typical rickets. As the condition progresses, changes in the skeleton gradually become apparent. In infants under six months with rickets, the changes are mainly in the skull, typically feeling like pressing on a ping-pong ball. After six months of age, the head shape becomes squared or box-like, and the head circumference is larger than normal. Later, the characteristic beading changes of rickets appear, with beaded protrusions above the ribs, followed by the formation of blunt, circular raised areas at the wrists and ankles, referred to as wrist and ankle bracelets. Around the age of one, infants may develop a deformity resembling pigeon chest. As the child begins to stand and walk, the weight bearing on the lower limbs may lead to deformities, such as bowlegs or knock-knees, and sometimes even K-shaped deformities of the legs, and some might develop spinal deformities.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Rickets and osteoporosis are caused by a lack of what?

Rickets and osteoporosis are both caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Rickets is commonly seen in infants and can present with abnormalities in skeletal development such as "ping-pong ball head", signs of wrist and ankle bracelets, square skull, funnel chest, pigeon chest, X-shaped legs, and O-shaped legs. Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease caused by reduced bone formation and increased bone resorption. It can be categorized according to its etiology into senile osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis, idiopathic osteoporosis, and secondary osteoporosis. Clinically, it can manifest as fatigue, bone pain, and fractures.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Can rickets be cured?

Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease caused by vitamin D deficiency that leads to disturbed calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, causing abnormal skeletal development. If a square skull is observed, it indicates that the child's disease has entered an active phase. Generally, in the early stages, there is an enlargement of the fontanelle or a delay in the closure of the fontanelle. By seven to eight months, a square skull can appear, primarily characterized by outward bulging centered on the frontal and parietal bones. At this time, it is generally necessary to administer a sufficient dose of vitamin D and encourage appropriate outdoor activities. Depending on the child's condition, it might be appropriate to supplement with calcium as well. Gradually, this should be curable; however, if there are other special causes for the abnormal vitamin D levels, such as severe liver or kidney disease or some new genetic diseases causing square skull, the treatment might be more challenging.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Does rickets have anything to do with milk powder?

Rickets is not necessarily linked to formula milk. Rickets is mainly a metabolic bone disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, while the main components of formula milk are various nutrients, including trace elements and vitamins. If the formula contains insufficient calcium, it may exacerbate the symptoms of rickets. Therefore, the main requirement is to intake enough vitamin D. National child healthcare guidelines require that children be supplemented with 400 to 800 units of vitamin D daily from two weeks after birth until the age of two. Additionally, it is important to get ample sunlight in daily life and engage in reasonable outdoor activities to promote calcium absorption, which can effectively prevent rickets. The amount of vitamin D and calcium in formula milk cannot meet the growth and developmental needs of children, so additional supplementation is necessary. Thus, there is a certain connection between rickets and formula milk, but it is not inevitable.