What is rickets?

Mar 12, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

In general, rickets is a systemic, chronic, nutritional disorder characterized by skeletal lesions. It is primarily caused by insufficient vitamin D in infants, children, and adolescents, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in a systemic, chronic, nutritional disease featuring skeletal abnormalities. In daily life, it is recommended to increase outdoor activities and sun exposure.

Generally, rickets is a systemic, chronic, nutritional disease characterized by skeletal lesions. It mainly occurs due to vitamin D deficiency in infants, children, and adolescents, which causes disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, leading to a systemic, chronic, nutritional disease marked by skeletal abnormalities. A detailed explanation is as follows:

When vitamin D is deficient, absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestines decreases, leading to reduced blood calcium and phosphorus levels. The drop in blood calcium stimulates the parathyroid glands to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), which enhances the activity of osteoclasts, accelerating the dissolution of bone salts and releasing calcium and phosphorus into the bloodstream to maintain normal or near-normal blood calcium levels. However, PTH also inhibits the renal tubules' reabsorption of phosphorus, increasing urinary phosphorus excretion and lowering blood phosphorus levels, thereby decreasing the calcium-phosphorus product. This affects the calcification of osteoid tissue, leading to bone softening and skeletal deformities.

Clinical manifestations of rickets mainly include skeletal changes, muscle hypotonia, and non-specific mental and neurological symptoms. Skeletal changes may present as pigeon chest, funnel chest, scoliosis, bowlegs (O-shaped legs), or knock knees (X-shaped legs). Muscle hypotonia manifests as delayed development of motor skills such as lifting the head, sitting, standing, and walking. Mental and neurological symptoms include irritability, easy agitation, restless sleep at night, and excessive sweating.

In daily life, it is important to increase outdoor activities and sun exposure, as 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin can be converted into vitamin D under the ultraviolet rays of sunlight, which is an important way for the human body to obtain vitamin D. It is recommended to spend at least two hours outdoors daily. A balanced diet should also be ensured. Infants should be breastfed when possible, and complementary foods rich in vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, such as animal liver, egg yolks, and dairy products, should be introduced timely.

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What causes a child to cry at night?

A child's crying at night may be caused by physiological factors or pathological factors, such as indigestion, rickets, coughing, and other conditions. Appropriate management can be selected according to the specific cause. If the infant consumes too little breast milk and is in a state of hunger, or if the diaper is wet, the clothing or bedding is too cold or too hot, or the child is suddenly exposed to loud noises or startled during sleep, these factors may also lead to nighttime crying in infants.

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What to do if a newborn has poor sleep

Poor sleep in newborns may be caused by hunger or overfeeding, environmental discomfort, vitamin D deficiency rickets, neonatal pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, and other factors. Treatment may include general care and medication therapy under a doctor's guidance. In daily life, it is important to maintain the newborn's personal hygiene, wash hands frequently, keep the skin clean, and pay particular attention to umbilical cord care to prevent infection.

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Why is the baby's palm hot?

A baby's hot palms may be caused by active metabolism, dietary factors, common cold, rickets due to vitamin D deficiency, pediatric pneumonia, or other reasons. If the baby shows any discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. In daily life, attention should be paid to the baby's personal hygiene, frequent hand washing to reduce the chances of infection; ensuring adequate sleep for the baby, which helps with physical growth, development, and enhanced immunity.

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What element is lacking in rickets?

In general, rickets may be caused by deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and other elements. In daily life, it is important to ensure adequate outdoor activities and, whenever possible, go outside to get sunlight exposure during periods of the day when the sun is strong, in order to promote endogenous vitamin D synthesis. Additionally, maintain a balanced diet by consuming more foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin K.