What foods are good for rickets?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on February 03, 2025
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Rickets is a global chronic nutritional disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, leading to disorders in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and abnormal bone development. The main issue stems from the lack of vitamin D, which causes abnormalities in the body's calcium levels, thus it's important to ensure dietary intake of vitamin D. For early infancy, it is generally recommended to strengthen feeding practices. Infants under six months should be exclusively breastfed until six months of age, followed by timely introduction of complementary foods. Cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamin D, should be routinely supplemented starting from the second week after birth, along with regular monitoring of growth and development. As complementary foods are introduced, try to include vitamin-rich vegetables and appropriately supplement with calcium-rich foods, such as certain seafood, while being mindful of potential allergies in children. Additionally, it is beneficial to include some high-protein, nutritious foods. Most importantly, children should persist in outdoor activities to get ample sunlight and continue supplementing with cod liver oil.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Is a square skull definitely rickets?

Square skull is not necessarily rickets; square skull can be seen in rickets and congenital syphilis, especially common in rickets. It is often seen in children with rickets older than 8-9 months, due to a lack of calcium in the bones which leads to inadequate bone deposition and calcification. Under the periosteum of the child's frontal bone, parietal bone, and occipital bone, a large amount of osteoid deposition forms the square skull. Therefore, while square skull is not necessarily indicative of rickets, it is a common manifestation in rickets.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Can rickets be cured?

Can rickets be cured? Rickets is a type of nutritional disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, which disrupts the body's calcium and phosphorus metabolism and leads to abnormal bone development. The common form is nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets. This type of disease is self-limiting and can be cured. Once children engage in sufficient outdoor activities and supplement their vitamin D levels, they can be completely cured. There are also some special cases, such as severe liver and kidney diseases caused by vitamin D deficiency, and some genetic diseases. These diseases require treatment to promote the absorption of vitamin D. However, for genetic diseases, treating rickets with vitamin D is ineffective, and these cases are more difficult to treat. For liver and kidney diseases, if the condition can be effectively controlled, they can also be cured.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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.

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Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
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If rickets is not treated, what will be the impact?

Rickets, if untreated, mainly involves changes in skeletal deformities and motor function in children. Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which is essential for promoting the absorption of calcium. A deficiency in vitamin D leads to reduced calcium absorption. Lower calcium absorption results in a calcium deficiency in the body, which in turn causes changes in the bones. In the early stages of vitamin D deficiency, the main symptoms are increased neural excitability, which may manifest as startle reactions, irritability, restlessness, and excessive sweating. During the active phase, symptoms of increased nervous system excitability become more pronounced, mainly presenting as skeletal deformities. What aspects do these skeletal deformities affect? One is the softening of the skull, pigeon chest, funnel chest, and changes resembling wristbands and anklets. If the condition worsens further, it can present as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and spinal deformities. Thus, if rickets progresses, it can lead to skeletal deformities and impairments in motor functions, among other issues.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Should I take vitamin D or D3 for rickets?

Rickets should be treated with D3, but strictly speaking, what we commonly refer to as vitamin D is D3, just phrased differently. Vitamin D3 helps promote the absorption of calcium by bones, preventing the occurrence of rickets symptoms. The main clinical manifestations of rickets appear in the deformation of bones, such as square skull, pigeon chest, flaring ribs, X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and other changes in bone status. The nervous system can show symptoms such as night sweats, nervous excitability, balding at the back of the head, poor sleep quality, and easiness to cry. For rickets, it is necessary to diagnose early, timely supplement with vitamin D to prevent symptoms from worsening, and also to get more sunlight and engage in outdoor activities, which helps the body synthesize vitamin D and absorb calcium.