Question
My son has been tossing and turning during his afternoon naps for the past month, sleeping restlessly and sweating a lot on his head. He then tends to rub his head back and forth on the pillow. I suspect it might be due to calcium deficiency, but my cousin thinks it could be an early symptom of rickets. What is pediatric rickets?
Answer
Rickets is primarily caused by calcium deficiency, leading to changes in the skeletal system such as a square head, costochondral beading, outward curvature of ribs, and conditions like genu varum or genu valgum, as well as pigeon chest. The most common early symptoms of calcium deficiency in infants include alopecia (hair loss), excessive sweating during deep sleep, and being easily awakened during deep sleep. If these symptoms appear, it is important to supplement the baby’s calcium promptly, which can be achieved by digesting cod liver oil to promote calcium absorption.