The baby is intensively growing. That his organism was formed correctly, a whole complex of useful substances is necessary. A part of the crumb gets with mother's milk or an adapted mixture. However, they do not always make up for the need for vitamin D. It is produced by skin cells exposed to sunlight. It can also contain some products. Vitamin D helps to assimilate calcium and regulates phosphorus-calcium metabolism.
If it is deficient, neither the bone nor the nervous system can develop correctly. Rickets (namely, it causes a lack of vitamin D) appears in children who are born weakened. Initially, the disorders caused by vitamin deficiency are almost invisible. And only a doctor can detect a disease. You, too, can help the baby. Tell the pediatrician about all the smallest changes that occur to the baby and disturb you. Together you will stop the disease. Let it be better that the alarm turns out to be false than you will miss the precious time in the treatment of this ailment.
Triple therapy
Doctors rarely resort to hospitalization for rickets - only in the most severe cases. Good help intensive treatment of scrap under the constant supervision of the pediatrician. Its goal is to eliminate the vitamin D deficiency, to correct the violations that have occurred in the body of a small one.
Give vitamin D to the kid
In fact, the name "vitamin D" hides several substances in itself. The child's body needs only two of them - D 2 (ergocalciferol) and D 3 cholecalciferol). To a child diagnosed with rickets, the doctor will prescribe a vitamin D complex in droplets or tablets. But the duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease.
Do not close the child from the light
Sunbathing is an important part of successful treatment. To the baby got the right portion of the vitamin, it is not necessary to completely undress him. It is enough to leave at least small areas of the body open: hands, face, neck.
Do gymnastics and massage
Movement activates blood circulation and normalizes all processes in the body, including phosphorus-calcium metabolism. In the two previous procedures, there will be no meaning without physical activity. They will not give a quick result. It is necessary to knead the muscles of the child every day (at least 10 sessions, 5 minutes each). Start from the periphery (groans and heels) and move to the center (tummy and back).
• To strengthen the backrest, lay the baby on his tummy. In this position, the muscles of the back and neck become stronger. You can start doing this from two months on. Only for a little while and under control.
• Put the baby on your back, take it by the forearms. Smoothly spread your hands to the sides, bring them together. Train your little muscles. Then lift and lower it a few times.
• Grasp the crumbs of the crumb with your hands and make circular movements, as if he is riding a bicycle. Turn the pedals forward, then back. This exercise perfectly strengthens the calf and hip muscles.
Prevention of rickets
According to statistics, children who are fed by mother's milk are less likely to get rickets. Breast milk contains many useful substances, although sometimes it also has a deficiency of vitamin D. Then you need to give vitamin D to your baby additionally. Preventive course of vitamin D should be prescribed by a pediatrician. He will determine how much the drug will suit your little one. Do not change the dose at your discretion.
Adapted mixtures also contain this most important element (enrichment is artificial). A pediatrician will be prescribed a prophylactic dose of vitamin D (taking into account the feeding of the child). Vitamin can be given to a child already from the fifth week of life (when this age falls on October-May). In cold, low-salt autumn-winter days, the crumb receives less important substances. The course of vitamins is the main, but not the only way of prevention. Let the diet of crumbs be varied. And more walk in the street!
Signs of rickets: do not lose sight of it
Deficiency of vitamin D is fairly easy to detect with the help of tests. In rickets, the content of phosphorus in the blood is significantly reduced. Calcium in the initial stages of this disease is normal, and then it also goes down. Remember: every stage of the disease has its own symptoms.
EARLY SIGNS
The lack of an important substance primarily affects the child's nervous system. He begins to cry more often, sleep worse, and often wake up for no reason. There is also an increased anxiety. The baby has a worsening appetite, it is disturbed by colic.
You can also note increased sweating during elementary physical exertion (for example, when crying, breast sucking). The little one has a strong forehead sweating. It is covered with small droplets during feeding. In addition, a moist spot forms around the head during sleep.
The skin in the nape of the neck (due to sweating) often itches, the child constantly turns his head, as a result of which the hairs on the nape are wiped and a small bald spot is formed.
LATER SIGNS
If, during the appearance of early signs of rickets, preventive measures and treatment are not taken, in a few weeks the changes will affect not only the nervous, but also the musculoskeletal system of the child, and muscle hypotension arises. The kid later starts to hold his head, turn over. Neither massage, nor gymnastics help.
Bones are deformed. The thorax protrudes forward, the ribs thicken where they pass into the cartilaginous tissue, thickening occurs near the wrist-carpal joints. As soon as the crumb begins to walk, the legs (x and o-shaped deformation) begin to bend.
The cartilaginous tissue of the skull does not harden. In some cases, the baby's head can even change its shape: the forehead becomes larger, and the nape is flattened.
In such cases, it is too late to think about why it is necessary to give vitamin D - the baby needs urgent hospitalization and treatment. It can be long, but, with the right approach, passes without any consequences.