Rickets is a disease of young children, due to the deficiency of vitamin D, the calcium-phosphorus metabolism is disturbed, the processes of bone formation and mineralization of bones, leading to deformation of the bones of the extremities, skull and thorax. In adults, this condition is called osteomalacia, in children - vitamin D vitamin hypovitaminosis.
Symptoms:
1. Soft occipital bone
2. Thickening of the ribs in the area of the wrist and tarsus-metatarsal joints
3. Deformities of the lower extremities, sternum
4. Decreased appetite, pallor
5. Sweating, urine with ammonia odor
6. Decreased muscle tone
7. Lag in psychomotor development.
8. Later eruption of milk teeth, defects in enamel
The causes of rickets.
Bones are the main part of the human motor system, so that the bones are strong, they need a large amount of calcium and phosphate. In the human body, calcium and phosphate should be supplied with food. In order to go from the intestine to the bone and there accumulate, you need vitamin D. The greatest amount of vitamin D is found in fish oil, egg yolk and milk. In addition, it is one of the few vitamins that can be synthesized in the human body. Ergosterol (provitamin D) is found in the skin. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, ergosterol is converted to vitamin D. However, if vitamin D is fed too little (with food or because of lack of sunlight), the skin is not enough, the bones lack calcium and phosphates, which in turn leads to impaired calcification, softening and deformation of bones.
Treatment of rickets.
Rickets are treated with vitamin D preparations.
How to help yourself?
The dietary intake of pregnant women should satisfy the need of their body in vitamin D. They should drink plenty of milk and often stay in the open air.
When should I see a doctor?
If the following symptoms occur, the child should be shown to the pediatrician.
Actions of the doctor.
The doctor will prescribe the vitamin D medications for the child. Radiographic and laboratory tests, feeling the baby's bones allow the doctor to make a conclusion about calcification and strength of bones. More severe forms of rickets are being treated with higher doses of vitamin D.
Course of the disease.
In children, rickets are most often manifested in the third month of life. The child is pale, poorly eats, becomes irritable, restless. Appear sweating, itching, because of this the child rubs his head on the pillow. The muscles become flabby, the urine has a strong ammonia odor, and convulsions are sometimes observed. The child comparatively late starts to sit, stand and walk. Later erupt and milk teeth, which, as a rule, are with defects in the enamel. For children with heavier forms of rickets, frequent fractures of bones are characteristic.
There are also pathological changes in the bones of the skeleton: the soft occipital bone becomes denser with time, the skull of the child acquires a square shape ("square" skull). Sometimes the sternum is deformed: in the places of bone tissue transition into the cartilaginous, thickenings - rachitic "rosaries" are formed. Rickets "bracelets" are formed in the region of the wrist, tarsus-metatarsal joints. Because of the heavy load, the bones of the bones are distorted. Perhaps the formation of a child's hump. Progression of the disease sometimes leads to a curvature of the lower extremities in the form of the letter O (varus deformation), less often in the form of the letter X (valgus deformation).
How to protect yourself from rickets?
To prevent rickets, the child should regularly drink plenty of milk and often stay with him in the sun and fresh air. However, in winter it is rather difficult. Therefore, in order to prevent infants, vitamin D is prescribed.