Can rickets be cured?

I don’t know if you have ever seen rickets. It is a common disease. Some children get this disease when they are young. They will suffer from physical maldevelopment, obvious osteoporosis, short stature, and are prone to fractures if they accidentally bump into anything. The main cause of rickets is insufficient intake of vitamin D. Some children do not get enough cod liver oil supplementation when they are young, or some premature babies lack certain vitamins in their bodies. They are more likely to suffer from rickets than children of the same age during their growth.

Many parents feel distressed when they find out that their children have rickets. Indeed, no one would have the heart to see a child suffering from illness. So everyone wants to know whether rickets can be cured. In fact, if you follow the doctor's advice and cooperate with the treatment, rickets can be cured. Let's take a look at the following treatments.

1. Vitamin D application

(1) Oral method: In the early stages of activity, infants and young children are given 62.5 to 125 μg (2,500 to 5,000 U) of vitamin D per day, and adults are given 125 to 250 μg (5,000 to 10,000 U) per day. During the peak activity period, infants and young children should be given 125-250 μg (5,000-10,000 U) of vitamin D per day, and adults should take 250-500 μg (10,000-20,000 U) of vitamin D per day. The therapeutic dose should be used for one month and then changed to a preventive dose. During the recovery period, preventive doses can be used to maintain the condition: 10 to 20 μg (400 to 800 U) per day for infants and young children, and 25 μg (1000 U) per day for adults. To prevent the simultaneous intake of large amounts of vitamin A, it is advisable to use a simple vitamin D preparation (vitamin D2 tablets or cholinesterol emulsion).

(2) Intramuscular injection: For patients with malabsorption or infants and young children who cannot adhere to oral administration, intramuscular injection of vitamin D3 7500 μg (300,000 U/vial) can be considered as an emergency treatment. Children in the early stages of activity or with mild disease can receive a single intramuscular injection of vitamin D3 7500 μg (300,000 U). For moderate to severe cases, vitamin D3 7500 μg (300,000 U) can be injected intramuscularly 2 to 3 times, with an interval of 1 to 2 months between each injection. One month after completing the above dosage, continue to take the preventive dose orally until the age of 2 years. Adults can also be given an intramuscular injection of 15,000 μg (600,000 U) of vitamin D3 during peak activity; use 1 to 2 times depending on the condition, with an interval of 1 month between each use. Follow up with preventive doses. If the therapeutic effect is not significant after 3 months of treatment, the cause should be identified to exclude vitamin D-resistant rickets.

2. Calcium supplements

The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends the reference daily dietary calcium intake as: 300 mg for 0-6 months, 400 mg for 7 months to 1 year, 600 mg for 1-3 years, 800 mg for 4-10 years, and 1000 mg for adolescents. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, menopausal women and the elderly need 1000-1200 mg. Dairy products are the best source of calcium. Pay attention to supplementing small fish, shrimp, soy products, seaweed and green leafy vegetables in the diet. Calcium should be given in appropriate amounts when supplementing vitamin D. Calcium supplements with high elemental calcium content and low gastrointestinal irritation should be selected.

The above is the treatment for rickets in children. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement children with comprehensive nutrition when they are young, otherwise they are prone to some common diseases. This is not only troublesome for the parents, but also for the children. If you discover early on that your child may have rickets, you should receive early treatment and the disease will probably be cured quickly.