Rickets in children under one year old

Most often rickets in babies are caused not a calcium deficiency per se, but a lack of vitamin D, which is necessary for normal assimilationcalcium and phosphorus. Even if enough of these minerals are supplied to the child's body, with vitamin D deficiency, they do not penetrate into the bone tissue in the required volume.

To synthesize vitamin D you need ultraviolet radiation, in other words - sunlight. That is why Rickets in children up to a year often develops in late autumn, winter and early spring, when children are more indoors, and during the walks, they are warmly dressed, so that the sun does not get on the skin.

Among the others causes that can provoke the development of rickets, it is possible to distinguish the infant's prematureness, inefficient feeding and disruption of the internal organs, which lead to a violation of the synthesis and absorption of vitamin D.

What are the signs of rickets in children under one year old? Usually the first clear symptoms of rickets are manifestedat the age of 3-4 months (the very first symptoms can occur in a month and a half, but due to their nonspecificity they usually go unnoticed). So, rickets in children up to a year at an early stage usually manifests itself following symptoms:

• 
  changes in behavior: the child becomes capricious, restless, fearful, irritable;
• 
  sleep disturbances: the child falls asleep badly and often wakes up;
• 
  a marked decrease in appetite, which can sometimes be accompanied by constipation;
• 
  strong sweating, especially in a dream, sweat has a characteristic sour and pungent smell;
• 
  decreased muscle tone.

If you ignore these symptoms, after 2-4 weeks will begin the so-called stage of swelling - changes in the bone system (the shape of the skull changes, the thoraxpushed in, the pelvis becomes narrower). There may also be a backlog in physical and mental development. If you do not start treatment in time, the skeletal deformities that have arisen can survive in adulthood, becoming a source of health problems.

Treatment of rickets in infants depends on the period of the illness, and also on the degree of severity. Usually prescribe the intake of vitamin D preparations inside, in addition can prescribe calcium preparations, ATP and citrate mixture.

An important role in the treatment of rickets is balanced nutrition and walking in the fresh air. A child may be assigned a number of general strengthening measures: vitamin therapy, coniferous and salt baths, sun baths, massage and therapeutic gymnastics. However, it is important to remember that sunbathing can not be combined with taking vitamin D.

Like any other disease, rickets are easier to prevent than treat. Moreover, prevention of rickets should begin even during pregnancy. It is important for a pregnant woman to monitor her diet, take more walks in the fresh air, and treat toxemias and anemia in a timely manner. In later pregnancy, vitamin D can be prescribed.

After the birth of a child, great importance for the prevention of rickets plays the correct mode of the day, sufficientStaying in the open air, rational nutrition (preferably breastfeeding), hardening, stimulating the movement of the baby, gymnastics and massage. Perhaps the pediatrician will additionally prescribe the baby the intake of vitamin D.

Rickets in infants - not such a rare disease, which in no case can not be brought to the stage of swell. When the first signs of rickets appear, you need to see a doctor as soon as possiblewho will confirm or deny the diagnosis and prescribe the treatment. It is very important to prevent rickets in children under three years, especially in premature or debilitated children of the first months of life.