The stage when a baby is just born is the fastest stage of growth and development. If calcium supplementation is insufficient or calcium cannot be absorbed and utilized by the baby's body, it is more likely to develop rickets. Rickets is a disease unique to children, so what are the symptoms of rickets in babies?
1、 What are the symptoms of rickets in babies
1. The general symptoms of rickets include early onset of restless sleep, night terrors, crying, irritability, and as the condition progresses, muscle relaxation throughout the body, enlarged liver and spleen, abdominal protrusion, excessive sweating, anemia, and delayed development.
2. Head: Softening of the skull, commonly seen in children under 6 months old, with a ping pong like elastic sensation when pressed with fingers at the center of the parietal or occipital bone. Square skull, large anterior fontanelle, delayed closure (can extend to over 2 years old). Late onset of teeth, no baby teeth for more than 10 months, and weak tooth texture.
3. Spine: multi-directional kyphosis, occasionally scoliosis.
4. Chest: The swelling at the junction of ribs and rib cartilage is called "rib bead". The sternum protrudes forward and the anterior posterior diameter of the chest increases, known as the "chicken chest". The thoracic cavity invaginates into a groove along the attachment of the diaphragm, known as the Haoshi groove.
5. Limbs: The epiphyseal ends of the ulna and radius of the wrist protrude, forming a blunt circular protrusion, known as rickets bracelets. Bend the lower limbs to form X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, saber legs, etc.
2、 Prevention of Rickets in Babies
1. Pay attention to the mother's prenatal care
Mothers should strengthen their nutrition during pregnancy and eat more foods rich in protein and vitamin D, such as eggs, lean meat, and animal liver; And it's important to bask in more sunlight; Vitamin D supplements should also be taken under the guidance of a doctor based on specific circumstances.
2. Try to feed with mother's milk as much as possible
Due to the appropriate proportion of calcium and phosphorus in breast milk, both vitamin D and calcium in milk are easily absorbed. Therefore, when conditions permit, children should try to consume breast milk as much as possible.
3. Stay in the sun more often
Due to its economic, convenient, and safe nature, sun exposure can be considered a good measure for preventing and treating rickets. Generally, if children persist in sunbathing for about 2 hours every day, they can meet their needs for vitamin D. Therefore, children can start sunbathing after one month and gradually increase their sun exposure time every day. However, it is important to note that in summer, it is best to bask in the shade of trees to avoid direct sunlight; Do not expose yourself to the sun through glass in winter to prevent UV rays from being absorbed.
4. Add vitamin D in a timely manner when necessary
The physiological requirement of vitamin D for children is 400-600 units per day. If this dose can be guaranteed, it can prevent the occurrence of rickets. Children who receive mixed feeding should start adding vitamin D at 2 weeks after birth. Parents should carefully calculate the daily intake of vitamin D through formula or fortified milk powder before supplementing; Or decide on the dosage that needs to be supplemented under the guidance of a doctor. In addition, children with malnutrition, weak constitution, and rapid growth and development should pay attention to supplementing vitamin D to prevent rickets.
5. Treatment of Rickets
Once a child is diagnosed with rickets by a doctor, the dosage of vitamin D should be determined by the doctor based on the severity of rickets, namely mild, moderate, and severe. Generally, the therapeutic dose for mild rickets is 1000-2000 units per day, while for moderate or severe rickets it is 2000-5000 units and 5000-10000 units, respectively. For severe rickets, sudden treatment can also be carried out. It should be emphasized that all the above treatments should be guided by a doctor.
It is best for mothers to understand the symptoms of rickets, so that once their baby shows symptoms of rickets, they can detect them in a timely manner. If they take active measures after discovering them, it will not have a significant impact on the baby's physical growth and development. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to treat rickets once the symptoms become severe.
