Rickets is a serious disease that affects the future development of children. Images of children with rickets can be a warning sign for parents about their child’s health condition. Early recognition and taking children to the doctor is extremely necessary to intervene promptly and prevent serious complications.
Rickets is a bone disease that causes soft and weak bones in infants and young children. Recognizing images of children with rickets and advising parents to take their children to the doctor as soon as they detect signs of rickets.
Images of children with rickets that parents need to pay attention to
When caring for young children, monitoring their health and development is very important. One of the problems that can seriously affect the physical and mental development of children is rickets. To promptly detect and intervene, parents need to pay attention to some images of children with rickets such as:
Ring hair loss
Ring hair loss is a condition of hair loss that forms a circle or a strip of hair without hair, often appearing around the child’s head. This can be a warning sign that the child’s body is lacking essential nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium, which are nutrients necessary for the healthy development of bones and hair.
Ring hair loss is one of the signs of rickets, because a lack of vitamin D reduces the body’s ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus, affecting bone development. The area of hair loss can be small or large, depending on the level of nutritional deficiency and the child’s general health.
In addition, children may show other signs such as short height, night sweats, fatigue or weakness.
Ringworm can be a warning sign of rickets in children
Short stature
If a child is below the standard height for their age, it indicates a delay in physical development. This can be the result of long-term nutritional deficiencies, which directly affect the child’s normal growth. In addition to short height, the child may also have a low weight, which is not appropriate for his or her height.
Petal concavity
Petal concavity is a condition in which the central part of the chest (the rib cage) is sunken in, creating an abnormal shape. This condition can be a sign of bone development problems, of which rickets is a common cause. Pectoral concavity can range from mild to severe, and its appearance may be accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath when exercising or a feeling of heaviness in the chest area.
Image of children with rickets causing chest depression
Exposed ribs
The image of children with rickets with exposed ribs is the most recognizable phenomenon because at this time the child’s ribs become clear and easily noticeable under the skin, which often occurs in children with rickets. This is not only a sign of bone development, but can also be an indicator of the child’s nutritional status.
Dangerous complications of rickets
Although rickets is not an acute, fatal disease, this disease can cause many negative effects on the physical, mental and mobility of children. In the long term, it can lead to low self-esteem and inferiority complex when entering adulthood. Below are the complications of rickets in children:
Reduced height due to slow bone development;
- Bent limbs, causing abnormal shapes such as bowed arms, bow legs (O) or bowl legs (X); The rib cage may be
- deformed and the spine may be hunched or crooked, affecting gait;
- Weak bones that break easily when injured or fall;
- Narrow pelvis, which may affect the girl’s future reproductive function;
- Delayed tooth growth, poor quality enamel, and tooth decay;
- Rickets can cause anemia and make the child susceptible to infections such as pneumonia.
Rickets causes many dangerous complications if not treated promptly.
How to prevent rickets?
To prevent rickets, parents need to pay attention to supplementing enough calcium and vitamin D for children from an early age. First, building a nutritious menu rich in calcium and vitamin D is essential. Some foods that mothers should add to their children’s daily diet are milk and dairy products, beans, green vegetables, cereals, almonds, fatty fish, etc.
In particular, regular sunbathing is the most natural, safe and effective way to supplement vitamin D. Children should be exposed to the sun between 6 and 9 am, about 10 to 15 minutes each day. Parents should also consult a doctor about vitamin D supplements suitable for children.
Let your baby sunbathe every day to supplement natural vitamin D.
Preventing rickets in children should begin during pregnancy. Pregnant women need three times more calcium than normal, especially in the last three months. Therefore, pregnant women should monitor and supplement vitamin D with appropriate doses.
In addition, in the first 6 months after birth, breastfeeding is an ideal source of nutrition, helping children develop comprehensively and strengthen the immune system. However, mothers need to follow a reasonable diet to ensure milk quality.
Finally, encouraging children to exercise regularly not only helps prevent rickets but also promotes healthy development. Activities such as running, jumping, walking or participating in sports will help improve endurance and stimulate bone formation, thereby making bones stronger.
Images of children with rickets are not only a worrying sign but also a reminder for parents to pay attention to their children’s health. If you notice any symptoms related to rickets, quickly take your child to a specialized medical facility for timely assessment and treatment. Timely care and treatment of rickets not only helps children improve their health but also ensures comprehensive development in the future.
