Symptoms of rickets have been known since ancient times, as far back as 200 AD, the Roman physician Galen conducted experiments to normalize the condition of bones by using cod fat. Over time, the disease was described in more detail, the author of the work was an Englishman, orthopedic doctor Gleason. The problem is based on a lack of vitamin D, which is involved in the absorption of calcium by the body, the result is a curvature or weakness (pathology) of the bone apparatus. Consider some indicators that indicate a problem.
Signs of Rickets
Photos of patients suffering from a lack of vitamins always make a depressing impression. Depending on the level of deficiency of elements, the disease progresses. These are indicators that may indicate a problem.
Mild rickets
For her characters:
- nervousness, anxiety and excitability of the child, which are manifested in crying for no reason, poor sleep ;
- some growth retardation;
- slow tightening of the fontanel, compliance of the bones of the skull;
- in children with a mild form of the disease, a flat occiput occurs;
- teeth grow poorly, brittle hair, slow psychomotor development and sweating.
Moderate form of rickets
The signs listed above for this stage are more pronounced, and other indicators are also present:
- the head has an unusual shape;
- chest deformation, bulging or hollow ribs;
- the chest and stomach are separated by a Harrison groove (groove);
- frog belly;
- hand tremor, increased fatigue;
- deformation of the bones of the legs, which look like the letters "X" or "O";
Heavy form
In addition to the above symptoms are observed:
- the lag is pronounced, both in mental development and in physical;
- the child’s body parts such as the chest, arms, skull, legs are deformed;
- the baby can neither walk nor sit without the help of an outsider;
- breathing problems, heart palpitations, enlarged liver;
- fragility of bones.
Symptoms of Rickets
At first, the child simply becomes restless, he has reduced appetite, poor sleep, sweating, and often there are constipation. Similar manifestations are noticed after 8 weeks of the baby's life. Further, if no measures are taken, the disease will begin to progress. That is, after 2-4 weeks of the initial stage, the symptoms of rickets will become more pronounced. At this stage, defects in the skeleton appear, which are found on x-rays, then - a change in the size of internal organs; a change in the chest, its separation from the abdomen with a groove. Flat cranial bones soften, the fontanel does not overgrow, the back is bent. In the absence of proper urgent treatment, everything will become much worse, up to the curvature of the legs and arms, delayed tooth growth. Muscles are prone to hypotension: children with these symptoms of rickets can pull their legs to the head and place their feet on their shoulders. At the last stage of the disease, the child’s body lacks essential vitamins, the liver and heart work poorly, constant pneumonia is caused by deformation of the chest, due to which the natural ventilation of the lungs is impaired.
The consequences of rickets
If the disease is recognized at the initial stage, serious consequences can be avoided, and if negligence has been shown and the child has a severe form of the disease, then the consequences will be disappointing:
- violation of posture;
- curvature of the legs, a change in the shape of the skull, as a result - mental retardation;
- changes in the bones of the chest lead to permanent lung diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis;
- for girls, rickets can mean problems with the birth of children, especially if the pelvic bones are changed;
- frequent bone fractures due to their weakness, weak physical activity;
- the development of anemia;
- malocclusion and reduced immunity.
Conclusion
Like any other disease, rickets must be treated immediately, without waiting until irreversible changes appear.