The difference between rickets and dwarfism.

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
Updated on November 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
48sec home-news-image

Rickets is a disease characterized by the softening and weakening of bones in children, typically due to inadequate vitamin D.

Rickets is a disease, and its full name is Nutritional Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets. It is caused by a lack of vitamin D in children, leading to a disorder in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body. It is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by bone lesions. Its typical manifestation is incomplete mineralization of the growing long bone ends and bone tissue. The symptoms include abnormal development of the bones. Generally, without timely and effective intervention, it may lead to conditions such as pigeon chest, or S-shaped or O-shaped legs, which can seriously affect the child's life later on.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
1min 7sec home-news-image

Can rickets be treated with vitamin D3?

Rickets can be treated with Vitamin D3; first, we need to understand the pathology of the disease. It is a metabolic, obstructive disease caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D. Often, this deficiency leads to impaired calcium absorption in the body, causing osteoporosis and bone deformity. Infants typically exhibit symptoms like square skulls, pigeon chests, outward flaring ribs, bow legs, and knock knees. Additionally, it affects the baby's sleep quality. The lack of Vitamin D can increase the baby's neural excitability, leading to poor sleep and easy waking. Moreover, severe cases can affect growth and development. Presence of these symptoms should be confirmed by laboratory testing of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 to determine specific levels and choose the appropriate dose of Vitamin D3 supplementation. It is also encouraged to promote children's physical activity and exposure to sunlight to enhance the body's synthesis of Vitamin D, which is beneficial for bone development. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 24sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 3sec home-news-image

How to treat rickets in a 2-year-old baby?

Rickets in two-year-old infants is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D leading to a disturbance in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal skeletal development. This class of systemic, chronic, nutritional diseases typically manifests in two-year-olds who are able to walk and stand. Due to the force of gravity, lower limb deformities may develop, leading to bowlegs or knock-knees, and possibly even a 'K'-shaped limb deformity. The spine may also develop kyphosis or scoliosis. Around the age of two, it is generally the residual stage of the disease, which often does not require pharmacological treatment. For mild to moderate cases, physical exercise should be enhanced, and active or passive rehabilitation methods should be used to correct skeletal deformities. It is recommended to seek treatment in the pediatric rehabilitation department; severe skeletal deformities may require surgical correction.