Question
The symptoms of pectus carinatum typically manifest as one side of the chest being lower than the other, with enough space in the middle to fit a child’s head. What is the general cost of treating this condition?
Answer
Pectus carinatum symptoms are usually caused by congenital developmental abnormalities, malnutrition, congenital heart disease, or rickets. Mild cases of pectus carinatum may gradually disappear as the body grows and can be accelerated by physical exercises such as chest expansion, prone support, and neck extension exercises. However, if the condition is severe and affects the respiratory circuit, surgical treatment may be necessary. For pectus carinatum caused by rickets, this is often due to abnormal bone changes resulting from long-term vitamin D deficiency and requires a test for alkaline phosphatase to confirm the diagnosis. Newborns should start taking cod liver oil within half a month after birth to prevent rickets.