Rickets cause demineralization of bone tissue and damage to the nervous system. One of the causes of the disease with rickets is vitamin D deficiency, which arises from the lack of synthesis of it in the skin. The next reason is the inadequate intake of vitamin D. This is due to the malnutrition of the pregnant woman. Occurs during early artificial feeding; unbalanced nutrition of the nursing mother, also leads to insufficient intake of vitamin D. Also the cause of rickets is prematurity, since the most intensive intake of minerals occurs in the last months of pregnancy. An unfavorable ecological situation also leads to the disease of rickets. The accumulation in the body of salts of lead, chromium, zinc, leads to the fact that these compounds replace the calcium compounds.
Typical signs of rickets:
- Excessively convex forehead;
-a very large belly;
- bald, smoothed neck.
There are several stages of rickets.
The first : the symptoms are mild, more from the nervous and muscular system. In the second stage of rickets, deformation of bones appears. The child deforms the skull, thorax. Due to deformation of the chest, respiratory organs, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract change. Muscular and ligamentous tone decreases, sweating, weakness is intensified. Because of a weak muscle tone, the baby has a big belly. And because of a violation in the gastrointestinal tract, constipation or diarrhea occurs. The child does not eat well, slowly gaining weight. General weakness leads to a lag in development. The kid reluctantly turns on the stomach and back, does not want to sit, slows down the development of conditioned reflexes. Because of softening and deformation of bones, the fontanelle closes very slowly, at 2 years and later. The bite is broken, the teeth erupt later. The extremities are deformed, the legs become a wheel, the form of the letter "o", sometimes on the contrary the form of the letter "x". The pelvic bones are almost always deformed. And the third stage is heavy: bone and muscle changes are pronounced. Strong violations of the internal organs, loose joints. In our time, rickets of this stage no longer occur.
The general condition of the child in rickets is weakened immunity, the child is often sick, the liver, spleen, tachycardia increases.
Treatment of rickets must be under the supervision of the pediatrician. At all it is not necessary to think, what is it the next children's dizziness which the child soon will outgrow. Do not treat the child yourself without the doctor's intervention. The main treatment for rickets is the appointment of vitamin D. The appointment of vitamin D, the calculation of the therapeutic dose and the duration of treatment is determined only by the pediatrician! Contraindication to the appointment of vitamin D is hypoxia, intracranial birth injury. Concomitant treatment includes proper nutrition, long walks, massage, as well as salt and coniferous baths.
To children inactive, lethargic salt baths are recommended: 2st. spoons of sea salt without dye for 10 liters of water, water temperature 35-36 degrees. Bath should not take more than 3 minutes. Children with increased nervous excitability are recommended coniferous baths. 1 teaspoon of liquid extract per 10 liters of water, water temperature 36 degrees. The bath should be taken about 5 minutes. Such baths must be taken every other day for 10-15 days.
The main prevention of childhood rickets is a healthy lifestyle, which must begin before the birth of the child. Future mothers need to eat right, take vitamins for pregnant women, long walks in the fresh air are useful. In the first three years of a child's life, the prevention of rickets should continue. Particular attention is paid to children of preterm and children who were born in the autumn-winter period. For the prevention of rickets, parents should remember that the child needs constant walks in the fresh air. Because vitamin D is produced in the body by the action of ultraviolet rays. In the warm season the child should spend at least 2 hours on the street. Also, the child needs to eat right. Food should include foods that contain calcium and vitamin D. This is a fish, especially fatty, such as mackerel, salmon; milk and dairy products. And also butter and cheese. Be sure to have an egg yolk in the diet. The food should not be monotonous, include a large variety of fruits and vegetables. Learn and perform various exercises of physiotherapy with the child. Massage is an excellent measure for the prevention of rickets. Learn a simple version of general health massage and do it yourself to the baby. And remember that the worst enemy of rickets is an active and healthy lifestyle.
Now you know what is child rickets, prevention, treatment of this unwanted disease.