Rickets: symptoms and treatment, photo

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Parents tirelessly worry about the he alth of their child from morning to evening. They are ready to purchase a variety of drugs, give the baby vitamin complexes and consult with the most famous pediatricians, but still, most mothers and fathers miss the first symptoms of rickets in infants and older children. Most often, parents think that in our century of developed medicine, this disease has long ceased to manifest itself. However, in fact, the signs and symptoms of rickets are found in every third baby, and in the world they get sick at different ages up to sixty percent of children. It is noteworthy that even adults are faced with manifestations of such a disease, but still, in the vast majority of cases, children under one year old are affected by rickets. If the problem is not given due attention, it will only get worse, and by the age of three will leave consequences that can no longer be eliminated. From our article you will find out what are the symptoms of rickets in children under 3years, as well as how to deal with this disease and what is its prevention.

Details about rickets

Almost all parents perceive the symptoms of rickets as something related to one disease. However, don't treat him like that. Pediatricians consider rickets to be a set of metabolic problems that prevent the absorption of calcium in the body. Therefore, it is quite natural that the initial symptoms of rickets are associated with the bone structure of the child. The cause of the disease is a lack of vitamin D, which allows a he althy body to synthesize and store calcium, which is used to build and strengthen rapidly growing bones.

Due to the dynamics and characteristics of the problem, pediatricians often call it “a disease of a growing organism”, because the more actively the baby grows, the more likely it is that he will face rickets.

Specialists know that the disease develops very slowly and, unfortunately, often goes unnoticed even for the most attentive moms and dads. But if you overlook the first symptoms of rickets (we will give a photo of problem children in the article a little later), then many changes will become irreversible and it will be almost impossible to return the baby to a he althy life. After all, the crumbs will be affected by the nervous and endocrine systems, many internal organs and the musculoskeletal system. But early diagnosis of the disease gives almost one hundred percent guarantee for a complete cure. And at the same time, you don’t have to make a titanic effort.

It is noteworthy that the problems of rickets were first described in England in the seventeenth century. Then the main symptoms of rickets were considered only a curvature of the spine, as a result of which a characteristic hump formed. Subsequently, the disease was studied in more detail and its other symptoms were revealed, as well as signs and methods of treatment.

Risk groups

Not every baby can get rickets, so pediatricians identify risk groups, the kids of which have a higher chance of facing this problem. First of all, premature babies are included here. They are light in weight and most often their body is weakened, which in many cases prevents the calcium received from food from being easily digestible.

Also bottle-fed babies are at risk of developing rickets. The fact is that children who receive breast milk are more protected. Together with food, all the necessary vitamins and minerals enter their body, but the "artists" are not always lucky with the mixture. Unadapted mixtures cannot provide the baby with vitamin D and other useful substances at all.

If your baby was born in the cold season, then he is also at risk. After all, such kids practically do not receive the sunlight they need for development, and outdoor walks are often impossible or very limited in time.

The category we are describing also includes children living in unfavorable conditions. If they are not provided with proper care, then it is likely that the baby will develop rickets, the initial symptoms of which may appear as early asthird week of life.

Causes of disease

Not always falling into the risk group is synonymous with rickets, subject to certain rules, your baby has every chance of avoiding the disease. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully study the causes of the problem, which, by the way, are quite numerous.

The first doctors include non-compliance with the daily routine and insufficient exposure to fresh air. In the first month of life, under favorable weather conditions, a child can spend up to two and a half hours a day outside. The first walk is limited to half an hour and in the future the time increases. In the summer, it will be useful to organize air baths for the baby, so he will receive the necessary amount of sun. But do not forget that the baby should never be in direct sunlight.

You should not slow down the movements of a newborn with tight swaddling, it limits the baby's motor abilities and prevents him from developing. As a result, the bones are constantly in the same position, which, in turn, reduces the amount of calcium available to the skeleton.

Digestive disorders also lead to the appearance of the first symptoms of rickets at a very early age. These include frequent regurgitation, constipation and diarrhea. In parallel, pediatricians also include serious diseases of the digestive tract in this category.

Quite often, children prone to regular colds suffer from rickets. Reduced immunity does not allow metabolic processes in the body to go on as usual, which causes symptoms of rickets.

Ifthe baby is prescribed vasoconstrictor drugs, then it is likely that you will have to deal with rickets. Drugs in this group are often the cause of its occurrence in infants up to a year and older.

Parents are always happy when a baby puts on weight quickly. This is considered one of the characteristics of a normally developing child. But it should be borne in mind that a large body weight is a certain load on the bone skeleton and requires an increased calcium content in the body.

Symptoms of rickets

We have already listed the causes of the disease, but besides them, every parent should know exactly how it manifests itself at the initial stage. Pediatricians advise being very attentive to the baby at the end of the first month of life in order to identify the problem in time and report your suspicions to the doctor.

Symptoms of the initial period of rickets are as follows:

1. Loss of appetite. The newborn suddenly stops eating his usual portion of milk or formula. At the same time, he gets tired much faster and the feeding time is significantly reduced.
2. Unreasonable anxiety. Parents often notice that the baby becomes very restless, reacts with a start to harsh sounds and light, is frightened of any strangers and is constantly naughty, not allowing mom and dad to even get some rest. All of these symptoms can be the first sign of rickets.
3. Problems with night and daytime sleep. If the baby does not sleep well, often wakes up andthis shudders, crying loudly, then these are obvious symptoms of rickets in the baby.
4. Excessive sweating. Often the disease manifests itself in this way. The baby sweats a lot even in cool weather, and an unpleasant sour aroma appears. Since the baby is wet all the time, diaper rash is more likely to appear, which further increases the baby's anxiety.
5. Spilling hairs on the back of the head. Since the baby becomes extremely nervous and constantly sweats, his hair, rubbing against the pillow, falls off very quickly and takes on a sloppy look, very different from he althy.
6. The appearance of problems with the stool. If you do not change the daily diet of a newborn, but for some reason the baby began to suffer from constipation or, conversely, diarrhea, then be sure to consult a doctor. You may already have rickets.

Pediatricians say that at this stage it is easiest to defeat the disease. Subject to all recommendations, it will pass without a trace and will not manifest itself in any way in the future. Otherwise, the problem will get worse.

Course of illness

The first symptoms of rickets in newborns that we have described, if left untreated, will be replenished with new and more severe ones. It will be quite difficult for parents not to notice them, because they are manifested by a clear developmental lag.

The baby's muscle tone weakens, he stops moving actively, and begins to roll over and crawl much later than other babies. For example, the symptoms of rickets in children under 1 year of age canexpressed in the fact that they do not want to walk on their own and do not even make attempts to do so. Such kids can only go to one and a half to two years.

There is also a softening of the bones of the skull, which leads to a later closure of the fontanel and a change in the shape of the skull. It becomes flattened and seems to be elongated, and noticeable bumps appear in the frontal part.

At the same time, the child constantly suffers from bloating, and digestive problems only multiply and worsen.

Severe forms of illness

If you look at the photo with the symptoms of rickets, it becomes clear that the disease passes into a severe stage after a few years. At this stage, treatment will take sufficient time, and delay will deprive the child of the chances for a normal and he althy life.

Rickets can reach this degree by the age of 3. Symptoms can be listed as follows:

• Serious skeletal deformities. The child develops a curvature of the limbs, this is especially noticeable on the legs. The shape of the chest also changes, it becomes narrower with protruding bones. The pelvis also narrows, in some cases it is even difficult for children to move around.
• Late teething. A child with severe rickets begins to eat solid food much later than his peers. This is due to the fact that his teeth sometimes erupt only by two or three years.
• The skull is completely deformed and will no longer be able to take its original shape in the future.
• Problems with internal organs. Children with rickets constantly have difficulty breathing andtachycardia, and an enlarged liver does not cope well with its basic functions.

Quite often, the symptoms of rickets during the height of the disease become difficulties associated with ordinary actions. For example, a child loses the ability to sit down without the help of adults, and you can completely forget about trying to walk and run for a long time.

Rickets Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat later, and it is necessary to start doing this from the moment of pregnancy. A woman in the process of bearing a baby should fully eat, not limiting herself in food. Some ladies are so afraid of gaining extra weight during pregnancy that they manage to stick to the diet all nine months. As a result, the expectant mother has a deficiency of vitamin D, which from her body must enter the body of the fetus. Nature is arranged in such a way that it is in this way that the baby can stock up on the necessary amount of vitamin. During pregnancy, he accumulates it and after birth begins to actively spend his reserves. If a woman restricts herself in food, then the baby will simply have nowhere to take the vitamin needed to prevent rickets.

For the same reason, you can not neglect a full diet and nursing mothers. Breast milk is a very valuable product for the he alth of the crumbs, as it contains everything it needs for development. Poor nutrition of the mother will not allow the baby to get such an important vitamin D.

In the totality of preventive measures, pediatricians must includedaily walks, massage, hardening and swimming. All these procedures strengthen the immunity of the newborn and prevent rickets. However, even with proper care, the disease can not always be avoided, and in this case it is worth relying on its early diagnosis.

How to identify the disease?

If you suspect rickets, be sure to share them with your pediatrician during your next visit. After talking with you, he will carefully examine the child and make a diagnosis, evaluating the characteristic signs of the disease. In some controversial cases, a number of laboratory tests are assigned.

Most often, the baby will need to donate blood. The reduced content of phosphorus in it and, conversely, the increased content of some other substances is a confirmation of the diagnosis. In Soviet times, doctors also prescribed a urine test. It was collected in a special way, but in recent years this technique is practically not used.

It is possible to accurately diagnose after x-rays, but they are not always done, since there is a danger of harming the baby's he alth with such a study. If you are still assigned to take pictures, then do not refuse. On them it will be perfectly noticeable what tissue grows on the baby's skeleton - bone or connective. The latter is in excess on the bones with rickets, this makes them grow incorrectly, makes them brittle and brittle.

The current level of development of medicine allows you to determine rickets without x-rays. It has been successfully replaced by computed tomography,on the device, the doctor will be able to analyze the condition of the bones and make the correct diagnosis.

Cure disease

If your baby has been diagnosed with rickets, then be prepared for complex treatment. Only a combination of different procedures will help defeat the disease, which in the early stages will not even leave any trace in the child's body.

At any stage of rickets, the pediatrician will prescribe vitamin D. Its dosage is selected individually, and the duration of administration is usually at least six months.

Gymnastics and massage are an important factor in healing. Moms and dads spend gymnastic minutes with babies, and crumbs aged from one to three years can do it themselves under their supervision. In general, physical activity is aimed at maintaining muscle tone and consists of simple exercises. The baby needs to squat, bend the legs, jump, play with the ball and so on.

Massage is carried out by both parents and specialists. For babies, stroking, rubbing, light tapping and kneading the limbs will be enough. Such simple actions increase blood flow, restore metabolism and strengthen the muscular skeleton. A child will have to hire a massage therapist for more than a year, he needs more complex manipulations that will not be easy for parents to reproduce on their own.

If the disease has already passed from the initial stage, then the pediatrician will add physiotherapy to the listed actions. It includes s alt baths, electrophoresis and paraffin wraps.

How to protect a baby from rickets?

We already wrote about the prevention of the disease a little higher, but we still did not cover some points regarding nutrition. Therefore, we will consider them in this section.

The risk groups listed at the beginning of the article include children who are bottle-fed. But this does not mean that they will necessarily face this problem. To reduce these risks to almost zero with good care, mothers should select milk formulas fortified with vitamin D. Today they are widely represented on the baby food market, so parents will have no problems choosing.

But older kids should eat well. Moms need to carefully consider the daily diet and make it as varied as possible. A child under three years of age and older must receive different meats. This includes dishes from dietary and red meat (veal, chicken, turkey) in any performance. Eggs should not be excluded from the diet, they should be given mainly in the form of an omelette or boiled. Many parents avoid seafood and fish as an allergen. But if you want to rid your baby of rickets, then these products are your best friends. It is recommended to steam fish and choose fatty varieties. Dairy products are also extremely important, here you can put everything that your baby loves on the table. Yogurts, sour milk, milk, butter, cheeses and cottage cheese “work” equally well against rickets.

Conclusion

But everything we said will be meaningless incases where the immediate cause of rickets has not been eliminated. Therefore, be sure to change the care of the baby, your and his nutrition, as well as the daily routine. Only with this approach, after a few months of treatment, the situation will begin to change for the better, and your child will recover.