Contents:
- Medical Video: 5 Things You Should Never Say to a Child With Aspergers
- Overview of rickets, which is common in children
- What are the signs and symptoms of rickets?
- What are the factors that can increase a child's risk of developing rickets?
- How do doctors diagnose rickets?
- How to treat rickets?
Medical Video: 5 Things You Should Never Say to a Child With Aspergers
Childhood is a golden period of healthy and strong bone development. But in some children, their bones do not develop so strongly that they have a soft texture. This is a sign of rickets. What causes rickets, and what are the symptoms that you should watch out for your child? Here's the full review.
Overview of rickets, which is common in children
Rickets are abnormalities that cause the bones to soften and weaken. Rickets cause the shape of the bones to change, and may even cause the child's growth to be hampered.
Rickets occur because of the bodylack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. The third role of this nutrient is very important for healthy and strong bone development during a child's growth and development.
Rakitis most often affects children, especially at the age of 6-36 months. However, it is possible for adults to experience it. Rickets in adults are calledosteomalacia.
Rickets are rare in developed countries, but are still common in a number of developing countries.
What are the signs and symptoms of rickets?
Rickets cause:
- Pain in the bones of the arms, legs, pelvis or spine
- Stature a child compared to children his age, because it does not grow and develop properly
- Easy fracture
- Often experience muscle cramps, twitching, and tingling in the hands and feet which can usually get worse. This is caused by low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia)
- The presence of tooth deformities, for example small (delayed tooth growth), easily perforated teeth, and defects in the tooth structure
- Bone deformities, such as: the skull is oddly shaped, the spine is curved, there are lumps in the ribs, thickening of the ankles, prominent breastbone, pelvic deformity.
- Soft head skull
- The legs or kneecap are bent
- Ability to walk is hampered
What are the factors that can increase a child's risk of developing rickets?
- Pregnant mother who experienced vitamin D deficiency. Babies born to a mother with severe vitamin D deficiency can be born with symptoms of rickets or develop them within a few months after birth,
- Premature birth. Premature babies have a greater chance of developing rickets because they do not receive enough calcium during the womb.
- Some medicines anticonvulsants and antiretrovirals used to treat HIV infections are thought to interfere with the body's ability to use vitamin D
- Socio-economic conditions low. Rickets occur in children with low socio-economic conditions associated with low purchasing power of foods rich in vitamin D and calcium and have limited food choices.
- Geographical location. Children who live in locations that receive less sunlight have a higher risk of rickets
- Malnutrition. Rickets are more common in regions of the world with severe droughts and famines occurring.
- Fat intake. Lack of fat intake or the presence of abnormalities in the use of fat in the body also increases a person experiencing rickets, because vitamin D can not work optimally without any solvents, namely fat.
How do doctors diagnose rickets?
The doctor can check the condition of the skull of a baby suspected of having rickets. Usually, rickets cause the texture of the skull to soften and close too late. The doctor can also observe the condition of the child's ribs and wrists and feet. If the child's ribs are protruding and the wrist is thickened, this is probably due to rickets.
To ensure a diagnosis, your doctor can advise your child to undergo x-rays to look for bone deformities that occur in the body. Next is a blood test to check calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate levels in a child's blood sample. Low amounts can indicate rickets.
How to treat rickets?
If left unchecked, rickets can cause the child to fail to grow, and experience:
- The backbone is curved abnormally
- Skeletal deformity
- Tooth decay
- Convulsions
To treat the condition, doctors can prescribe supplemental supplements of vitamin D and calcium which can immediately begin the healing process. The dose of vitamin D which is usually used to treat rickets in children ranges from 1000-2000 international units (IU) every day, while calcium consumption must be as much as 1000-1500 mg every day. This must begin immediately.
Doctors can also advise you to increase the diet that is high in calcium and vitamin D.
Children with congenital rickets are usually treated by a hormone specialist (endocrinologist).
