What causes a baby's rib flare on one side?
Disease description:
Today I took my baby out to meet a friend, and when she held the baby, she mentioned that the baby's ribs seemed to be flaring outward. That's when I first noticed it too. I'd like to ask, what could cause one side of a baby's ribcage to protrude outward?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
It is usually caused by vitamin deficiency or similar reasons. It may be due to a lack of vitamin D, which plays an important role in skeletal development. Insufficient vitamin D can lead to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, resulting in the aforementioned symptoms. It could also result from damage during local bone development; if not treated promptly, improper healing may lead to deformities, causing the baby to exhibit these symptoms. Surgical correction may be required.
