Can rickets be cured?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on January 04, 2025
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Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease caused by vitamin D deficiency that leads to disturbed calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, causing abnormal skeletal development. If a square skull is observed, it indicates that the child's disease has entered an active phase. Generally, in the early stages, there is an enlargement of the fontanelle or a delay in the closure of the fontanelle. By seven to eight months, a square skull can appear, primarily characterized by outward bulging centered on the frontal and parietal bones. At this time, it is generally necessary to administer a sufficient dose of vitamin D and encourage appropriate outdoor activities. Depending on the child's condition, it might be appropriate to supplement with calcium as well. Gradually, this should be curable; however, if there are other special causes for the abnormal vitamin D levels, such as severe liver or kidney disease or some new genetic diseases causing square skull, the treatment might be more challenging.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 37sec home-news-image

What is the treatment method for rickets?

Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which results in abnormal skeletal development—a type of systemic nutritional disease. The most common form is nutritional rickets due to a deficiency in nutrients and vitamin D. Treatment focuses on controlling the active phase to prevent relapse of deformities. Therefore, early detection and comprehensive treatment are crucial. The primary treatment method involves supplementing with vitamin D. The choice of vitamin D, the dosage, and the length of treatment generally need to be tailored to the specific circumstances of the child. Additionally, increased exposure to sunlight and appropriate outdoor activities should be encouraged to enhance the absorption of vitamin D. Children should also be supplemented with calcium and a variety of vitamins. Follow-ups during the recovery phase are necessary, and training in sitting, standing, and walking should not be started too early to avoid deformities in the lower limbs. Furthermore, no medication is needed during the residual stage of the disease. For mild to moderate cases, physical exercise should be intensified, and skeletal deformities can be corrected using active or passive exercises. Severe skeletal deformities may require surgical correction.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 38sec home-news-image

Causes of Rickets

Rickets, also known as Vitamin D-deficiency rickets, implies from its name that the cause of the disease is due to insufficient intake of Vitamin D in children, leading to disorders in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and resulting in nutritional disease with skeletal deformities. The incidence of the disease is higher in the north than in the south. Currently, the incidence of mild and moderate rickets is relatively high, while severe cases are less common because people are increasingly paying attention to the supplementation of Vitamin D for children. It is recommended that full-term infants start supplementing with 400 units of Vitamin D daily two weeks after birth, which is the physiological requirement. For premature infants, twins, and extremely low birth weight infants, the daily physiological requirement of supplementation is 800 units per day. After supplementing continuously for three months, it should be adjusted to 400 units per day as per the requirement for full-term infants. With such management, the child will not suffer from rickets. However, if there is no regular supplementation after birth, the lack of Vitamin D can lead to skeletal changes in the child, and once rickets is diagnosed, it requires high doses of supplementation.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 18sec home-news-image

Can rickets be cured?

Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease caused by vitamin D deficiency that leads to disturbed calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, causing abnormal skeletal development. If a square skull is observed, it indicates that the child's disease has entered an active phase. Generally, in the early stages, there is an enlargement of the fontanelle or a delay in the closure of the fontanelle. By seven to eight months, a square skull can appear, primarily characterized by outward bulging centered on the frontal and parietal bones. At this time, it is generally necessary to administer a sufficient dose of vitamin D and encourage appropriate outdoor activities. Depending on the child's condition, it might be appropriate to supplement with calcium as well. Gradually, this should be curable; however, if there are other special causes for the abnormal vitamin D levels, such as severe liver or kidney disease or some new genetic diseases causing square skull, the treatment might be more challenging.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Early symptoms of rickets

Rickets is a bone disease formed due to a deficiency of vitamin D, clinically referred to as rickets. The early clinical symptoms of rickets, which correspond to the early stages of vitamin D deficiency, primarily manifest as autonomic dysfunction, including night terrors, night sweats, and crying. In the early stages of rickets symptoms, parents often believe the cause to be calcium deficiency. Indeed, vitamin D deficiency can also impair calcium absorption, and these are linked reactions. Therefore, parents should pay attention to supplementing vitamin D, especially in areas with insufficient sunlight, ensuring that children receive less than two hours of sunlight exposure per day. During children's growth phases, it is essential to ensure adequate daily intake of vitamin D, with a basic amount of 400 IU being necessary.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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.