Signs of rickets
Rickets are known since ancient times. Changes in the bone system of a rachtic nature were described in the 2nd century BC by Soran Effesky and Galen. In the XV-XVI centuries, rickets became a common disease, especially among children in large cities in Europe. It is no accident that the canvases of famous painters of the time depict children with typical signs of rickets. And now it is a common disease. Parents of small children, of course, are concerned about the question of how to detect rickets in children. The symptoms by which this disease can be determined. This article will provide answers to these questions and tell you what to look for first.
Causes of rickets
- The cause of rickets is a lack ofvitamin D in the body. It is necessary for the absorption of calcium from the intestine and its proper distribution in the body. After all, calcium is necessary for the operation of the central nervous system and other organs, as well as for the development of bone tissue.
- As a rule, children under the age of 3 are exposed to rickets.
- Vitamin D is produced by the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. There is it in some products, for example, in fish oil, egg yolk, in dairy products.
- Shortage in the body of vitamin D is negativeaffects the absorption of calcium in the intestine and its content in the blood. In order to correct this situation the organism of the child activates the activity of the glands. This stimulates an increase in the calcium content in the blood, which is due to washing it out of the bones. As a result, rickets occur.
Features of rickets
Consider the signs of rickets. With this disease, you can observe muscle hypotension. There is also a weakness in the ligamentous apparatus, which is manifested by the looseness of the joints and lethargic muscles. A sick child can lie on his back, put his foot on his shoulder or reach out with his foot to the head. It is for this reason, children suffering from rickets, begin to get up, sit and walk much later.
Convex forehead, very convex or, conversely,flat stomach, curvature of the limbs - these are the most typical signs of rickets in children. The photos taken in the underdeveloped states, depicting hungry and malnourished children, are proof of this.
When the disease is neglected,disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Lipid and protein metabolism is also disturbed. There is a shortage of vitamins B, C, E, A, D, and trace elements: zinc, copper, magnesium and others. As a result, this leads to disruption of all body systems. Due to the deformation of the chest and the consequent air ventilation in the lungs, inflammation of the lungs and heart often occurs in patients with rickets.
Symptoms of the disease
Rickets develop in several stages. Initially it manifests itself:
- decreased appetite;
- anxiety and sleep disturbance.
It is necessary to recognize the first signs of rickets in timechildren under one year. This should serve as an excuse for contacting a doctor. He will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and give appropriate recommendations. If the parents do not worry about the state of the child at this stage and the necessary treatment is not provided in time, the next stage of the disease will begin to develop in a few weeks. Experts call it a period of swing. At this stage of the disease begins:
- Deformation of the baby's bones.
- The change in the shape of the skull, it manifests itself in: elongation of the skull; flattening of the occiput; appearance of frontal tubercles.
- Inward compression of the thorax.
- Violation of the development of the pelvis.
To bring the disease to this stage is impossible, because the recovery of such children takes a very long time. They become more susceptible to various chronic diseases.
If after reading this article, you will findsigns of rickets in the child, in no case delay the visit to the doctor. And more, remember that the most important helpers in the prevention of rickets are the sun and nutrition of the baby.
