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

Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

Updated on September 18, 2024

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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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

1min 5sec

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Is rickets easy to treat?

Rickets is primarily a nutritional disease caused by insufficient levels of vitamin D leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphate metabolism, resulting in abnormal bone development. The most common type is nutritional vitamin D-deficiency rickets. This type of disease is self-limiting and thus relatively easy to treat. It requires early detection and proactive intervention. Early measures include encouraging children to engage in outdoor activities and supplementing with appropriate doses of vitamin D, which can effectively treat rickets. However, there are also special causes of vitamin D deficiency such as significant anomalies in liver or kidney function and certain genetic diseases that severely impair vitamin D absorption. When vitamin D treatment is ineffective, it may be due to other special causes. Treatment of rickets under these circumstances can be more challenging, and genetic diseases may respond poorly to treatment.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

1min 1sec

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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.

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Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

1min 13sec

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Clinical manifestations of rickets

Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, occurs because children do not supplement vitamin D in a timely manner after birth, leading to a deficiency of vitamin D in the body and resulting in a nutritional metabolic disease primarily involving skeletal changes. In the early stages, children mainly show symptoms related to mental and emotional state, such as irritability, crying, excessive sweating, shaking their heads back and forth, and rubbing their heads. Subsequently, symptoms like bald patches on the back of the head and softening of the skull bones may appear. As children grow, they may develop conditions such as a square-shaped skull, beaded ribs, pigeon chest, funnel chest, and bracelet-like deformities around the wrists and ankles. In severe cases, children may later develop X-shaped legs and O-shaped legs. If rickets is suspected, it is crucial to promptly conduct a blood test to measure the vitamin D level. If the level is below normal, it is essential to actively treat the diagnosed rickets.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

50sec

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Can rickets be cured?

Rickets is a type of disease caused by a lack of vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, and resulting in abnormal bone development. The most common form of this disease is nutritional rickets caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. This type of rickets is curable as it is a self-limiting disease. Generally, timely supplementation of vitamin D and calcium, along with sufficient outdoor activities, can lead to recovery after treatment. However, there are some special cases, such as severe liver and kidney diseases, which require addressing the root cause before the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be alleviated. Additionally, there are some genetic diseases for which vitamin D supplementation is ineffective, making their treatment more challenging.

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Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

46sec

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How to determine if a baby has rickets

The diagnosis of rickets in infants should rely on the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the blood and the examination of the long bones through X-rays imaging, rather than early symptoms. However, due to the young age of infants, it is recommended to supplement vitamin D within two weeks after birth. If the supplementation is not timely, some early clinical manifestations may appear occasionally, such as brachycephaly, bowed legs, and pigeon chest in infants. Additionally, there may be abnormalities in the nervous system, such as unstable sleep, easily startled and crying, and increased excitability. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the condition through the aforementioned tests and then proceed with symptomatic treatment.