Can rickets be cured?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 01, 2024
00:00
00:00

Can rickets be cured? Rickets, also known as nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets, is primarily caused by insufficient levels of vitamin D in the body leading to disorders in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. It is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions. Typically, it manifests as flawed mineralization of long bones and bone tissue at the growth plates. Vitamin D deficiency rickets is a self-limiting disease that can generally be cured if children have sufficient outdoor activities and adequate exposure to sunlight. Adequate sunlight exposure and physiological doses of vitamin D can treat rickets. Therefore, it is usually recommended that children supplement with 400 units of vitamin D starting about two weeks after birth to prevent and treat rickets. However, if the child is in a later stage and shows obvious skeletal deformities, corrective treatment may be necessary. In severe cases of rickets where intracranial lesions occur, it might affect the child's vital signs and, in serious cases, could even lead to the child's death. Therefore, it is advised that children get plenty of sunlight, routinely supplement with vitamin D, and have regular pediatric check-ups to assess their condition.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
52sec home-news-image

Can rickets be treated by injection?

Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, leading to a disturbance in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which results in abnormal bone development. It is a systemic nutritional and chronic disease. The main treatment is to supplement a sufficient dosage of vitamin D, generally administered orally. The choice of vitamin D formulation, dosage, duration of treatment, whether it is administered once or multiple times, and whether supplementation is oral or intramuscular, should be determined based on the specific situation of the child. Relevant tests are generally required, and the doctor will develop a treatment plan based on the child's condition. The route of administration should also be decided based on the condition of the disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 7sec home-news-image

Rickets lack what vitamin

Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by bone lesions, caused by insufficient vitamin D in a child's body, leading to disrupted calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Typically, it is evident in the incomplete mineralization of the growing long bones' metaphyseal ends and bone tissue, resulting in the softening or deformation of the bones. All children, including full-term infants after two weeks, premature infants, twins, and low birth weight infants after one week, should start supplementing with vitamin D. This is because the content of vitamin D in foods, such as breast milk or various infant formulas, is not sufficient to meet the needs of children. Therefore, a lack of timely vitamin D supplementation after birth can lead to a deficiency and consequently rickets, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin D. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not medicate blindly.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
57sec home-news-image

Which department should I go to for rickets?

Rickets is a nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and resulting in abnormal bone development. During the early and active stages, the X-ray shows no obvious abnormalities in bone development; it is primarily a conceptual metabolic disorder along with low levels of vitamin D. At this time, it is advisable to consult an endocrinology department. If there are sequelae and mild to moderate sequelae, rehabilitation methods are needed for correction, and at this point, a rehabilitation department should be consulted. If there are severe skeletal deformities, surgical correction may be necessary, and at this time, an orthopedic department should be consulted.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
43sec home-news-image

The difference between rickets and rib flare

Rickets and rib flaring are different; rib flaring can be considered a symptom of rickets. Rickets is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in infants and children, leading to abnormal metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, which results in incomplete calcification and softening of the bones, thereby causing skeletal deformities. Rickets can be divided into initial, active, recovery, and sequelae stages. During the active stage of rickets, skeletal deformities such as softened skull, "ping pong" head, square skull, rib flaring, pigeon chest, funnel chest, X-shaped legs, and O-shaped legs are prone to occur.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
57sec home-news-image

How is rickets diagnosed?

Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal changes, resulting from insufficient Vitamin D in children, which leads to disruptions in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Diagnosis of rickets requires a measure of Vitamin D levels, clinical manifestations, certain biochemical markers in blood, and skeletal X-ray findings. Typically, Vitamin D levels are significantly lower than usual, with the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 being the most reliable diagnostic standard. However, many facilities are unable to perform this test, so some instead rely on blood biochemistry and skeletal X-rays. Currently, blood biochemistry and skeletal X-ray examinations are considered the gold standard for diagnosis.