Children's osteoporosis, this is a metabolic disorder in the bone tissue. It is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and a violation of the microstructure. The bones become very fragile, the risk of fractures increases. This disease is low-symptomatic, so it is difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis is most often made when the disease progresses, causing multiple and frequent fractures.
Internal processes.
Rejuvenation of cells constantly occurs in our bone tissue. Some die, others are formed. In youth, the metabolism is intense, the formation of new cells occurs faster than dying off. Therefore, children grow. In middle age, this process is equalized. And in the elderly, internal processes freeze, and bone degradation occurs. Fractures are easy to get, but they grow together poorly. Therefore, until recently, osteoporosis was considered a disease of the elderly.
In normal conditions, bone tissue is built with the appropriate bricks - vitamins, micro- and macro elements. The most important building element is calcium. The greatest growth of bones occurs during puberty. And by the age of 25 a person is gaining 85% of bone mass. The calcium content in the body reaches 1.5 kilograms. For comparison, a newborn calcium only 25 grams. A sufficient amount of bone mass is a pledge of health and longevity.
But this is ideal. Now imagine a fairly common picture. The child has an unbalanced diet, often from lack of appetite. Low physical activity. Unhealthy air and "bad" water. Nervous overstrain in the garden, school and home (if the family is unsuccessful). What good can come of it? At children at an early age there are chronic diseases! Including children's osteoporosis. Especially at risk premature babies and rickets at an early age. Also stimulate osteoporosis is many medications, especially from bronchial asthma.
How to determine children's osteoporosis.
Children's osteoporosis does not show itself for a long time. The structure of the bones changes gradually and imperceptibly. Specific complaints the child does not show, however the terrible process is already started. The first symptoms are: fragility of nails and hair, dry skin, twitching and muscle cramps, increased fatigue, decreased learning achievement. All these symptoms are inherent in other diseases. Especially - this is an occasion to turn to specialists. If you do nothing, the initial stage of the disease goes unnoticed into the acute stage of pediatric osteoporosis. Characteristic symptoms: pain in the large joints and spine, as well as slowing the growth of the child.
But the most obvious symptom is frequent fractures in innocuous situations. With an awkward fall, as a result of gravity transfer, with sudden movement. If a healthy child does all this every day without consequences, a patient with osteoporosis can get multiple fractures that do not correspond to the severity of the injury.
Recognize osteoporosis can be using X-ray densitometry. With the help of a computer program, an X-ray image is analyzed in many parameters, after which the density of bone tissue is determined. However, the method of ultrasonic densitometry is safer. To fully confirm the diagnosis should be a complete hormonal analysis. Because the reduction in bone density can also be caused by complications in the endocrine system.
Treatment of pediatric osteoporosis.
To cope with this serious disease it is possible only at observance of all references of the doctor. The potential of a growing organism is very high, and in most cases it is possible to achieve excellent results. Treatment begins with diet and regimen. Special calcium medicines are indispensable here. It is necessary to create conditions for calcium to reach the organs and be fully absorbed.
Mandatory manual therapy and therapeutic exercise. They are necessary for improving blood circulation, hence - feeding the bone mass. When preparing a diet should include foods rich in calcium and vitamin D. The main sources of non-synthetic calcium are dairy products. Especially hard cheeses. They contain about 800 mg of calcium in one hundred grams of the product. Also rich in calcium is beans: 130 mg per 100 g of product. Buckwheat and oatmeal, unmodified soybeans, parsley must be present in the ration. It is impossible to achieve good results without the use of fatty fish. In addition to calcium, it has a lot of useful phosphorus. Salmon, herring and sardines should be eaten together with small bones, while thoroughly chewing. Useful sea kale, it has a lot of vitamin D. From vegetables should be preferred crops with green leaves. The only contraindication are: spinach, sorrel and cabbage leaves. They contain oxalic acid, which binds calcium, preventing its absorption. From other vegetable fruits, you can recommend seeds and nuts. It is necessary to exclude from the diet caffeinated foods and beverages: energy, tea, coffee, chocolate. Caffeine removes calcium in the urine.
For sports, for obvious reasons, will have to be treated with special attention. Together with a specialist should develop a useful set of exercises. Do not forget to coordinate it with a physical education teacher at school. If a child visits the sports section and experiences extreme physical exertion, be sure to consult a doctor about the appropriateness of such exercises. It is inadmissible to involve sick children in the carrying of weights and not to allow debilitating loads. Accustom to the work of the child more humane methods.
Natural factors of recovery should be applied in full. Solar and air baths, water procedures harden the body. They release hidden reserves. Sun rays, for example, are indispensable for the development and assimilation of vitamin D. A breastfed child even in winter can be exposed to sunlight for half an hour. If overcast, you can use ultraviolet radiation. And most importantly - do not give in to panic! Do not self-medicate! The intake of vitamins and minerals is prescribed only by the doctor. In this situation, the principle does not work: "The more, the better." Conversely, an overdose of vitamin D inevitably leads to toxic poisoning.
How to avoid fractures.
In children's osteoporosis - lack of bone mass, it is necessary to observe safety precautions. Provide good coverage in the dark corners of the house or apartment. Usually these are stairs, corridors, closets, toilet and bathroom. Passages should be free from excess items, so that the child does not accidentally stumble. In winter, the greatest danger is ice. In order not to get a fracture, teach the child to move properly on a slippery surface:
- Train the balance under the supervision of adults.
- He must look carefully at his feet.
- Walk slowly and not very long.
- Step on the entire sole (not on the heel, not on the sock).
Plan your route in advance, avoid uncleared areas. Choose sidewalks, sprinkled with sand. This is understandable why. It is useful to attach a strip of coarse-grained sandpaper to the sole or at least a regular adhesive plaster. Shoes buy non-slip. Girls should forget about high heels. In the dark, use a flashlight.
Children's osteoporosis, arising from a lack of bone mass - is not a verdict. If it is responsible, even selflessly approaching this disease, then it is quite possible to cope with common efforts. The main thing is comprehensive attention, both from doctors and from parents, teachers, friends and girlfriends.