Rickets is known as an alteration produced mainly by a vitamin deficiency, especially by a lack of vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus . Although this is the most common cause of the pathology, there may be cases in which it is due to a hereditary nature.
This disorder generates as a general consequence the softening and weakening of the bones of the body. This is because vitamin D significantly helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from all the foods you eat. When a baby or child does not get enough vitamin D, the bones do not receive the nutrients they need for proper growth and formation.
If you think that your child may have this deficit, it is important that you consult a doctor. If you want to know more about this pathology, at FastlyHealwe invite you to read the following article on childhood rickets: symptoms, causes and consequences .
Symptoms of rickets in childhood
Among the most common symptoms of childhood rickets, the following stand out:
- Bone pain
- Tenderness in the extremities of the body, the spine and the pelvis.
- Decreased muscle tone, causing weakness and loss of strength in all muscles.
- Dental deformities can also be observed, which may include delayed dental formation, defects in the structure of the teeth, holes in the enamel of the teeth and a considerable increase in cavities.
- Likewise, infants with rickets have poor growth.
- They are prone to bone fractures
- Have constant muscle cramps
- Their stature is usually short, since adults with this disorder generally do not exceed 1.52 meters in height.
- Skeletal deformities are also a characteristic symptom of rickets, for example, the skull may be irregularly shaped, the legs bowed, the sternum lies forward, and there may be other deformities in the pelvic areas and the spine.
Causes of rickets in children
The vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of childhood rickets. This is because this vitamin helps the body to properly control the levels of calcium and phosphorus in it. If the blood levels of these minerals are very low, it is possible that the body causes hormones that generate the release of calcium and phosphorus from the bones, making them very soft and weak.
Vitamin D is absorbed from food, for this reason, babies who are fed only breast milk are prone to developing a deficit of this nutrient and suffering from infantile rickets. This is because the mother’s milk does not supply the necessary amount of this type of vitamin, which can be a more serious problem for children in winter since, with direct, moderate and careful exposure to the sun the skin It can produce part of the requirement of vitamin D, however, during this time of year, the Sun is very weak and the amount that the skin can generate by stimulating sunlight is reduced.
On the other hand, the child’s genes can also be the cause of childhood rickets. This pathology, when it is hereditary, happens because the kidneys are not able to retain phosphate . Likewise, although occasionally, rickets in children can be present in those who have some type of liver disorder, which makes them unable to convert vitamin D to its active form.
Consequences for childhood rickets
Among the most common consequences of vitamin D deficiency are:
- Chronic muscle pain
- Chronic fatigue
- Appearance of stones or stones in the kidneys
- Depression
- Hypertension caused by the malabsorption of essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.
On the other hand, childhood rickets has the main consequence of body fragility, mainly in the bones, so that children who suffer from it, in addition to being more likely to suffer ruptures in them, have a great problem when welding bones when they break or fracture.
Osteomalacia is also a consequence of rickets, since it is the softening of the bones because they are demineralized by the deficiency of vitamin D.
Treatment for rickets in children
The primary goal of treating childhood rickets is to relieve symptoms while trying to correct the cause of the condition. This is why the process will be focused on the underlying cause of this pathology to prevent it from reappearing over time.
Replenishing missing nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D helps eliminate the vast majority of symptoms that rickets causes. For this reason, it is important to consult a specialist so that he or she can monitor the infant and can provide the most appropriate treatment for it. The pediatrician may recommend the supply of processed milk and moderate exposure to sunlight; however, you can also offer other sources of vitamins such as fish or liver depending on the age of the child.
In the following FastlyHealarticle you will find foods rich in vitamin D , so that you can supply the components that cause rickets through your diet.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Childhood Rickets: Symptoms, Causes and Consequences , we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.