Rickets symptoms
Rickets is a disease that manifests itself in a deficiency in the body of vitamin D. Symptoms of the disease: tearfulness, unmotivated irritability of the child, delayed teething, soreness, slowing of the fontanel fossilization, flexibility, softness of the bones, deformity of the legs, "duck" gait, propensity to fractures,developmental delay.
Rickets develops most often in children of the first year of life, when there are intensified growth processes, the formation of the skeleton. Premature babies are especially affected. The development of the disease is also promoted by acute respiratory infections, intestinal disorders, and pneumonia.
The leading cause of rickets is a deficiency of vitamin D, causing a breakdown in phosphorus-calcium metabolism and a violation of calcification of bone tissue. Deficiency of vitamin D is explained by its insufficient formation in the skin and ingestion into the body with food. This occurs when defects in caring for the child: violations of the regime, underestimation of fresh air and natural ultraviolet radiation. The development of rickets is also facilitated by eating disorders of the baby, especially when there is a lack of protein, vitamin C, group B in the diet, with an unbalanced diet due to an excess of carbohydrates and fats.
The changes in calcium phosphate exchange that occur during rickets lead to softening of the bones, which easily deform and warp.
For the prevention of rickets, it is very important to adhere to the regime and ensure thorough care of the child. You should make the most of fresh air, walk with your baby in any weather, organize a sleep in the fresh air. Very useful water hardening procedures, daily gymnastics, massage.
The food ration should provide the body with a high-grade protein, high-quality fats, which are sources of vitamins A, D, E. Fruit and vegetable juices, purees, and timely introduced complementary foods are needed. As a drink, use vegetable decoctions, rose hips infusion.
The doctor prescribes vitamin D preparations. Usually, they are given to children who are breastfeeding, from the 2-3-week age in the amount of 400-500 IU daily during the first year of life. With artificial feeding of adapted milk formulas, which contain vitamin D, these drugs are prescribed in a lower dosage, based on the amount of the mixture obtained.
Improper, uncontrolled use of vitamin D can lead to its overdose and the development of hypervitaminosis D in the child. There are common intoxication, anxiety, sleep disturbance, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite. Bone tissue thickens, the early fontanel closes early. In severe cases, the kidneys, the cardiovascular system are affected.
Treatment of hypervitaminosis D consists in the abolition of vitamin D preparations. From the diet of the child, foods with a high calcium content( cottage cheese) are excluded, some restrict whole milk( for example, porridge is prepared in diluted milk and vegetable broths).To eliminate toxicosis, appoint a sufficient amount of fluid. Sometimes, for medical reasons, the treatment is carried out in a hospital.
Children with manifestations of rickets, including those with residual effects, in addition to common activities, are prescribed ultraviolet irradiation( up to 10-12 procedures), which is performed in the clinic, as well as general massage, air baths, coniferous and salt baths( up to 20 procedures), which you can do at home. Very useful special therapeutic exercises and massage, which are carried out both in the polyclinic and at home after the appropriate preparation of the parents.
Apitherapy for rickets
Required:
2 cups of fresh May honey, 5 lemons.
Method of preparation.
Lemons together with rind are passed through a meat grinder, after which it is mixed with honey.
How to use.
Mixture take 2 tbsp.spoon 3-4 times a day with meals.