Can rickets be cured?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on May 15, 2025
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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 Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Rickets is a disease that affects bone development in children due to vitamin D deficiency, calcium, or phosphate. It is treatable with proper nutrition and supplementation.

Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, is caused by a lack of vitamin D, leading to abnormal calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body. The calcium salts cannot be properly deposited in the growing parts of the skeleton, causing incomplete mineralization of the bone tissue during growth. This results in a chronic systemic nutritional disease closely related to lifestyle, characterized by skeletal abnormalities. The most common is nutritional vitamin D deficiency, which is self-limiting. Typically, sufficient vitamin D supplementation and appropriate sun exposure can cure it. If caused by other severe diseases, vitamin D deficiency will significantly manifest liver and kidney function abnormalities. Additionally, some congenital genetic diseases make treatment more difficult when vitamin D levels are deficient.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Early manifestations of rickets

Rickets is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin D, which leads to a disorder in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal bone development. It primarily appears in the early stages in infants within six months old, and particularly within three months after birth. The initial presentation is an increase in nervous excitability, such as fussiness and unease in children, symptoms like excessive internal heat and sweating, especially more sweat on the head. Continuous sweating can lead to significant baldness at the back of the head. Sometimes, children may exhibit constant head shaking, but these are not very specific symptoms. Early detection involves decreased blood calcium and phosphorus levels, increased parathyroid hormone levels, and decreased levels of related markers in blood tests. Early bone X-rays appear normal, so initial symptoms are not so typical. Therefore, it is recommended that infants be taken to a pediatrician for a physical examination as soon as possible, where their developmental status can be assessed and rickets can be diagnosed. If it is early-stage vitamin D deficiency rickets, timely supplementation of vitamin D levels can be an effective cure.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Will the frontal bossing from rickets get better?

Rickets, if presenting with frontal bossing, can recover depending on the specific condition and age of the child. Rickets is often divided into four stages, with sequelae usually occurring after the age of three. Therefore, if symptoms of rickets are present before the age of three, they can be alleviated through supplementation with vitamin D, calcium, and other trace elements. Symptoms of rickets include craniotabes, Harrison's groove, beading of the ribs, pigeon chest, everted ribs, bowlegs, and knock-knees. Frontal bossing is often a manifestation of craniotabes, which usually occurs during infancy. Supplementing with vitamin D during this period can greatly alleviate the condition. At the same time, it is important to also expose the child to sunlight and engage in outdoor activities to promote the bones' absorption of vitamin D and calcium, preventing the recurrence of symptoms.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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
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How is rickets treated?

How is rickets treated? Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The common nutritional deficiency of vitamin D, primarily due to insufficient intake, results in abnormal bone development. At this time, effectively supplementing vitamin D, engaging in appropriate outdoor activities, and receiving ample sunlight can treat rickets in children. However, there are some special cases, such as significant abnormalities in liver or kidney function, where treatment should be targeted based on the cause of the condition. In addition, some congenital genetic abnormalities causing disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism can make treatment more challenging. Therefore, the treatment of rickets should be based on specific conditions. Generally, if it is simply a case of nutritional deficiency of vitamin D, the treatment outcome is quite favorable and the condition is considered self-limiting. Thus, if a vitamin D deficiency is detected, it is important to supplement promptly to prevent further abnormal bone development.