Question
My child is over one year old. It’s the time when children should be growing, but I’ve noticed that when my child moves, their body tends to sway from left to right, and they often wake up at night while sleeping. I’ve searched online and it says it might be rickets, caused by a lack of certain elements in the body. I want to know what trace elements are missing in rickets?
Answer
Rickets is a common nutritional deficiency in children, primarily caused by a lack of vitamin D. Symptoms of rickets include excessive sweating, restless sleep, irritability, and may include skeletal deformities such as pigeon chest or bowed legs. If you suspect your child has rickets, it is recommended that parents take their child to a regular hospital for bone density testing or X-rays to confirm the diagnosis. Under medical guidance, bone morphogenetic protein can be taken to help absorb calcium. At the same time, exposing the baby to sunlight more often also helps with the synthesis of vitamin D and the absorption of calcium.