A 1.5-Year-Old Child Develops Pigeon Chest: What to Do?

Question

The child, at 1.5 years old, has been discovered to have a pigeon chest and there is no sign of improvement. Seeking assistance: I want to inquire whether it will worsen, and whether it can grow up normally? This is my biggest concern, please take the trouble to answer, thank you.

Answer

Pigeon chest is usually caused by rickets, which is due to a lack of sufficient vitamin D in the body, leading to calcium and phosphorus absorption disorders, causing osteomalacia. This condition causes the connection between the ribs and sternum to sink inward, resulting in an outward protrusion of the sternum. For children under three years old with pigeon chest, active treatment for rickets should be pursued, including calcium and vitamin D supplementation. For patients over three years old, it is often a sequelae and simple calcium and vitamin D treatment is ineffective. Mild pigeon chest usually disappears gradually as the child grows up. Strengthening physical training such as chest expansion exercises, prone support, and neck lift exercises, performed twice a day, can accelerate correction of the deformity. If the pigeon chest is severe and affects the respiratory circuit, surgery may be required. Pigeon chest caused by rickets is due to bone changes caused by long-term vitamin D deficiency and can be diagnosed with a bone alkaline phosphatase test. It is recommended to start supplementing cod liver oil after the baby is half a month old to prevent rickets.