Vitamin D deficiency in children mainly causes neuropsychiatric symptoms, convulsions, tetany, laryngospasm and abnormal bone development. The main physiological function of vitamin D is to maintain the balance of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, promote the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and promote the maturation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
1. Neuropsychiatric symptoms: manifested as excessive sweating, nocturnal alarm, nocturnal crying, irritability; excessive sweating has nothing to do with climate. Due to the stimulation of sweat, the child often rubs the occiput, forming occipital baldness.
2. Convulsions: usually feverless convulsions, sudden seizures, manifested as twitching of the limbs, upturning of the eyes, facial muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, incontinence, etc. After the seizure stops, the child tends to fall asleep. After the seizure stops, more sleep, wake up lively as usual. The number of seizures per day varies, each lasting from a few seconds to several minutes or longer. In mild cases, there is only a startled jump or a brief upward movement of the eyeballs, and the consciousness is clear.
3. Hand and foot tics: manifested as bending of the wrists, straightening of the fingers, thumb inwardly close to the palm; straightening of the ankle joints, toes straight and downwardly curved, and the soles of the feet in the form of an arch. When the attack is clear.
4. Laryngeal spasm: Sudden spasm of vocal folds and laryngeal muscles causes inspiratory dyspnea and laryngeal ringing, and death by asphyxiation may occur in severe cases.
5. Abnormal skeletal development. Vitamin D deficiency leads to calcium deficiency, resulting in rickets, cranial softening, square skull, large fontanel and late closure, rib beading, rib margin ectropion, chicken chest or funnel chest, bracelets, anklets, O-shaped legs, X-shaped legs and other symptoms. In severe cases, children may have scoliosis or scoliosis, malnutrition, anemia, and enlargement of the liver and spleen.
In short, children with the above symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.