If rickets is not treated, what will be the impact?

Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on November 09, 2024
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Rickets, if untreated, mainly involves changes in skeletal deformities and motor function in children. Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which is essential for promoting the absorption of calcium. A deficiency in vitamin D leads to reduced calcium absorption. Lower calcium absorption results in a calcium deficiency in the body, which in turn causes changes in the bones. In the early stages of vitamin D deficiency, the main symptoms are increased neural excitability, which may manifest as startle reactions, irritability, restlessness, and excessive sweating. During the active phase, symptoms of increased nervous system excitability become more pronounced, mainly presenting as skeletal deformities. What aspects do these skeletal deformities affect? One is the softening of the skull, pigeon chest, funnel chest, and changes resembling wristbands and anklets. If the condition worsens further, it can present as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and spinal deformities. Thus, if rickets progresses, it can lead to skeletal deformities and impairments in motor functions, among other issues.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Rickets is a deficiency of what?

Rickets is caused by a deficiency of what? For rickets, its main gold standard for diagnosis is based on the results of blood biochemistry and skeletal X-ray examinations. Generally, the deficiency in rickets is mainly due to insufficient levels of vitamin D, which then leads to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Typically, this is characterized by low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the body, along with decreased levels of blood calcium and phosphorus, manifesting as deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. However, in children, rickets could also be caused by other factors, such as abnormalities in liver or kidney function, or congenital hereditary diseases. Generally, further tests are needed to confirm rickets. If other special causes are ruled out, timely supplementation of vitamin D and appropriate exposure to sunlight, along with calcium supplementation, can effectively cure the disease.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 26sec home-news-image

Can rickets be cured?

The rickets we commonly talk about is nutritional Vitamin D deficiency rickets, which is due to a deficiency of Vitamin D in the body leading to a disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. This results in a systemic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions. If rickets is caused by insufficient intake, it can be self-healing and is a self-limiting disease. Once infants and young children spend enough time outdoors and receive physiological doses of Vitamin D treatment, rickets can be treated. However, treatment becomes significantly challenging in cases of congenital developmental abnormalities causing skeletal lesions, or any genetic diseases that lead to Vitamin D absorption disorders. Such cases often result in severe complications, including prominent kidney dysfunction leading to further disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, as well as liver function abnormalities causing Vitamin D synthesis disorders. Therefore, it is important to understand the specific causes of Vitamin D deficiency in children, and if the deficiency is due to common reasons that can be promptly controlled, then supplementation with Vitamin D and trace elements like calcium can effectively treat the condition.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Is a square skull definitely rickets?

Square skull is not necessarily rickets; square skull can be seen in rickets and congenital syphilis, especially common in rickets. It is often seen in children with rickets older than 8-9 months, due to a lack of calcium in the bones which leads to inadequate bone deposition and calcification. Under the periosteum of the child's frontal bone, parietal bone, and occipital bone, a large amount of osteoid deposition forms the square skull. Therefore, while square skull is not necessarily indicative of rickets, it is a common manifestation in rickets.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of rickets in infants and young children

The symptoms of rickets in infants and young children mainly include excessive sweating, night terrors, thinning hair at the back of the head, rib cage flaring, pigeon chest, bow legs, and knock knees, among others. If a child exhibits the above symptoms, it is necessary to promptly test for trace elements and check bone density to see if the child has symptoms of calcium deficiency. If so, it is crucial to supplement the child with vitamin D and calcium. In terms of diet, it is necessary to enhance the child's nutrition and increase outdoor activities. Ensure that the child engages in outdoor activities for more than two hours each day, particularly between 12 PM and 2 PM. Avoid exposing the child to sunlight during this time to prevent sunburn, especially to the child's eyes.

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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.