Osteomalacia in children and methods of treatment and prevention
Osteomalacia in children is a skeletal disorder that occurs due to a failure in the process of fixing minerals, which are calcium and phosphorous, to the bone tissue during its growth period, which makes the bone tissue soft,
It is caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate, and these nutrients are important for the development of strong and healthy bones. Children with rickets have weak and brittle bones, stunted growth, and in difficult cases, skeletal abnormalities occur.
Children are most at risk of rickets because they are still developing, so be aware that children may not get enough vitamin D if they live in an area with little sun, follow a vegetarian diet, or do not drink dairy products, and in some cases, the condition is hereditary.
Causes of osteomalacia in children
A significant deficiency of calcium in the body and its insufficient presence in the body, which leads to weak and brittle bones.
Vitamin D deficiency in the body as a result of not eating foods rich in vitamin D from food or not exposing the body to sunlight, also following a vegetarian diet that does not contain meat and proteins.
avoiding or eliminating dairy products and not drinking milk from the diet; This also happens more often in the elderly.
Incidence of different types of cancer.
Insufficient phosphorous in food.
Exposure to problems in the intestines and digestive system, which affects the ability to absorb vitamin D from food.
Kidney failure or acidic blood disorders.
chronic liver disease; Having it can lead to a failure to convert vitamin D into its active form.
Taking some medications that are used to treat seizures
Symptoms of osteomalacia in children
There are multiple symptoms that appear on a child with osteomalacia, which make parents notice that he has this disease, including: (delayed growth of the child, or delay in the emergence of teeth, short stature, frequent fractures of the child, and the shape of the legs is abnormal and curved). It must be confirmed that the child has osteomalacia after noticing that he is not growing properly, by going to the pediatrician specialized in this, and diagnosing his condition through x-rays of the bones, or some laboratory tests,
After confirming that the child has osteomalacia, treatment must be started as soon as possible; For the child to heal, and his bones to grow properly.
Osteomalacia treatment for children
Treatment is to replace vitamin D orally (drops or syrup) or intramuscularly (a needle that can be repeated every month), with adjusting the child’s nutrition, and exposing him to the sun for 10-15 minutes a day, especially in the morning and directly (even the window glass prevents the body from benefiting from the sun).
The deformities usually resolve within months, and in very rare cases we may have to repair them surgically.
The importance of drinking milk for children to prevent osteomalacia
Osteomalacia in children has many complications, including: the child’s exposure to repeated fractures without any reason, or the occurrence of deformation in the child’s bones, or pain in the bones and spine or lung infections, therefore, it is preferable to prevent osteomalacia in children in order to avoid such cases
As we mentioned earlier, one of the most important causes of osteomalacia in children is a lack of calcium and vitamin D in the body, so healthy and proper nutrition for a child is the best way to prevent disease, and milk is one of the most important natural sources of both calcium and vitamin D, as a cup contains of milk contains 130 international units of vitamin D, while the recommended amount for a child is 400 international units
Also, one cup of milk contains 30% of the daily need for calcium
And do not forget that milk contains useful fats that are important for the good absorption of vitamin D in the body
In general, it is recommended to give the child 2-3 servings of powdered milk on a daily basis or some other dairy products, and one serving is half a cup or 4 ounces and as the child grows, it may increase to a cup.
