Question
A four-month-and-ten-day-old baby has been experiencing poor sleep quality since two months ago, easily waking up, being sensitive to sounds, and occasionally waking up without any noise. Each sleep session lasts only half an hour. At the same time, the milk intake has significantly decreased, and the baby coughs slightly when feeding from the bottle and stops eating. During the three-month check-up, the baby’s weight was more than one centimeter below the standard height for their age. There are suspected signs of calcium deficiency, and the baby has been taking zinc-calcium supplements for some time, but the symptoms have not improved. Is it rickets, and what traditional Chinese medicines can effectively improve sleep issues?
Answer
The above symptoms are indicative of early vitamin D deficiency, while rickets is a late symptom accompanied by changes in bone structure. It is recommended to immediately inject vitamin D to promote calcium absorption, with doses of 50 to 100 micrograms of vitamin D intramuscularly. After one month, check blood calcium levels and take an X-ray of the bones to ensure there are no abnormalities. If everything is normal, oral vitamin D can be taken for preventive supplementation.