Symptoms of tetany in children

Infantile tetany is common in infants aged 6 months. The cause is the severe vitamin D deficiency of the infants themselves and the incomplete metabolic function of the parathyroid glands, which leads to local or systemic muscle spasms. How can we identify childhood convulsions in our daily life? Next, I will tell you in detail what are the specific manifestations of childhood convulsions? How should we deal with such problems when we encounter them in life?

Clinical manifestations

1. Convulsions

It is the most common symptom in infancy. It often occurs suddenly, with twitching of the limbs, upward rolling of eyes, tremor of facial muscles, and confusion. It may last from a few seconds to tens of minutes. The attacks may occur several to dozens of times a day, with clear consciousness and normal activities during the intervals. In mild cases, there is only staring of the eyes, startle or twitching of some facial muscles. Generally, there is no fever. However, if accompanied by infection or the attacks are frequent and last too long, the body temperature may rise.

2. Tetany

It is more common in infants and older children. During an attack, the patient is conscious, with rigidity and spasm in the hands and feet, flexion of the wrist, extension of fingers, adduction of the thumb into the palm, extension of the ankle joint, and simultaneous downward bending of the toes.

3. Laryngeal spasm

More common in infancy. Due to spasms of the laryngeal muscles, breathing difficulties may occur, and in severe cases, it may lead to suffocation and death, so it should be taken seriously.

Causes

The cause of the disease is the same as that of rickets, but the bone changes are not obvious and there is often parathyroid compensatory insufficiency.

1. In the early stages of vitamin D deficiency, if the parathyroid gland fails to compensate for the decrease in blood calcium, the blood phosphorus level will be normal but the blood calcium level will be low. Clinically, symptoms of hypocalcemia will appear but bone changes will not be significant.

2. Increased outdoor activities in spring and summer cause a sudden increase in vitamin D synthesis in the body, or at the beginning of vitamin D treatment, which accelerates the calcification of uncalcified bones. A large amount of blood calcium is deposited in the bones, which accelerates bone calcification, reduces decalcification of old bones, and relatively insufficient intestinal calcium absorption, which causes a decrease in blood calcium.

3. When infected, feverish, or hungry, phosphorus is released from cells due to tissue decomposition, causing blood phosphorus to rise and blood calcium to fall.

4. Infants under six months old grow and develop the fastest and need more calcium. If their diet does not provide enough calcium and they are deficient in vitamin D, they are prone to disease. Immature infants and formula-fed infants are more susceptible to the disease.

5. Long-term diarrhea or obstructive jaundice reduces the absorption of vitamin D and calcium, leading to low blood calcium.

6. When the blood pH rises, such as respiratory alkali poisoning caused by hyperventilation, excessive injection of alkaline solution or acidosis is corrected, it can accelerate the deposition of calcium ions in the bones, leading to a decrease in blood calcium.