Many children under the age of four months, there are initial signs of rickets, especially if that age in the autumn and winter. But today, children under one year monthly pediatrician observed that prevents further development of the disease, appropriate treatment.

What is rickets and its causes

Rickets - a disease of childhood caused by lack of vitamin D, characterized by the violation of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, bone formation and breakdown of the nervous system and internal organs.

Rickets usually develops before the age of one year. Cases of congenital rickets, which is more common in children born to women who have had severe toxicosis second half of pregnancy. Active rachitic process in children three - four years later refers to rickets.

The prevalence of rickets and the severity of its symptoms largely depends on the socio-economic conditions and geographic characteristics of the terrain (lack of sun), in which the children are faring.

The primary cause of rickets is lack of vitamin D, resulting from the inadequate supply it with food or in violation of its natural formation in the skin by exposure to sunlight. Therefore, rickets in children often occurs in those areas where there is little sun. Contribute to this and poor housing conditions, poor child care, poor feeding.

Of particular importance is the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in foods. In human milk calcium and phosphorus are in optimal ratios. If bottle-fed baby is starting to get more phosphorus that inhibits the absorption of calcium. Occurrence rickets abundance promotes farinaceous foods (cereal semolina), in which the phosphorus is in the form of forming a calcium salt insoluble in the intestine.

Threats by rickets are all premature babies Premature babies: special care Whose vitamin D stocked insufficient.

What happens in the body of the child with rickets

In rickets disorder occurs many types of exchange, which disrupts the formation of bone tissue and functional changes in various organs and systems. As a result of vitamin D deficiency occurs lack of education in the kidney to its active form - vitamin D3, stimulates intestinal absorption and mobilization of calcium from bone depot. Also decreases the absorption of phosphorus. All this leads to a decrease in the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood and in the bone. Lack of calcium in the blood stimulates the activity of the parathyroid glands, the hormone that stimulates the mobilization of bone calcium. This inhibited the activities of some thyroid hormones that stimulate bone mineralization.

With the deepening of vitamin D deficiency is disturbed not only the absorption of calcium in the intestines, but also its mobilization from the skeleton, which leads to persistent hypocalcaemia and hypophosphatemia (lack of calcium and phosphorus in the blood). This disturbed bone mineralization. Moreover, the exchange is disturbed, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, cobalt, which is accompanied by a change in the activity of certain enzymes. The body is not enough, and all the vitamins, causing disorders of the nervous system. All this leads to disruption of protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

All of these metabolic disorders is likely to disrupt the growth of bone, cartilage excess, delayed bone formation and accumulation is not fully formed bone (osteophytes) as rachitic bracelets and beads Inadequate mineralization of bone leads to softening and deformation. Due to violations of protein metabolism is reduced immunity.

Signs of rickets

Rickets may be mild, moderate and severe. In the course of his distinguished four stages: initial, step height, convalescence (recovery) and step residual effects.

The initial stage (lasts from two weeks to three months) begins at about three, four months of age and is characterized by excessive sweating, heat rash Sudamen , Alopecia neck. Child shy, moody, bad eating and sleeping.

At the height of these symptoms align changes in bone and muscle systems. The bones are softened (especially clearly it can be seen on the head in the fontanelle, their edges are soft), can change the shape of the head, thorax (it may take the form of chicken, with a protruding sternum), on the edges at the junction of bone cartilage formation thickening - rosary. After six - eight months may change the shape of limbs: forearms and legs appear rachitic thickening - "brasletki" legs bent O- or X-shaped.

Muscles become flaccid, children less exercise and poorly developed. Due to the sharp reduction in the amount of calcium in the blood increases the excitability of the nervous system can occur convulsions different muscle groups. This condition is called spazmofilii.

The period of convalescence is characterized by regression of the disease. Gradually disappear all his symptoms.

The period of residual effects observed in the age of two - three years older when rachitic process is completely finished and there are only its consequences in the form of skeletal deformities and malformation of teeth.

Treatment and prevention of rickets

Treatment Policy Pay rickets vitamin D, assigns it to a doctor, because the slightest overdose of this medication is fraught with significant complications.

Prevention of rickets - a proper breastfeeding Breastfeeding: notes , The child's stay in the open air at least three hours a day and regular visits to the pediatrician.

Galina Romanenko

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