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A child's transition into an adult requires a lot of nutrition, including vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Vitamins and minerals are known as micronutrients as they are required in the body in small amounts. Though they are required in small amounts, these vitamins and minerals play a crucial role in a child's development, making them healthy and strong. Also, there is a constant need for vitamins and minerals throughout human life to stay healthy and active. Vitamins, especially vitamin D, is vital in developing immunity and bones. Get to know Vitamin D better and how one can detect the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in kids. Keep reading!
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Vitamin D: A Vital Need for Body
Vitamin D is a vital micronutrient that supports bone development and growth. It helps the body absorb calcium and phosphate, making the bones stronger and the muscles more flexible. Simply put, vitamin D is majorly responsible for bone growth and development.
Without Vitamin D, there will be severe bone issues and much more adversity in health. Not only does vitamin D ensure that a child grows up with stronger bones and flexible muscles, but vitamin D is also responsible for building up the immune system in kids.
A better immunity system will always ward off various infections and diseases. Similarly, a kid with low immunity will always be prone to multiple infections and diseases, especially pneumonia or breathing problems.
Now that you have a clear perspective on vitamin D make sure you know about the various symptoms of vitamin D deficiency as a parent to make your child healthier and stronger.
What Is Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency is a condition in which a child's body does not receive enough vitamin D. This deficiency can happen for many reasons, such as sun deprivation, severe malnutrition and many more conditions. Vitamin D deficiency can also be genetic in children from the mother's or father's side. It is important to know that various diseases and underlying health conditions in children can also trigger vitamin D deficiency. To understand it simply, vitamin D deficiency is when the body is not getting enough vitamin D according to daily intake, causing severe symptoms and leading to various health problems. Keep reading to learn more about how vitamin D deficiency impacts the child and its symptoms.
Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency In Kids Every Parent Should Know Here are some of the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency that every parent should know about:
1. Constant Joints And Muscle Pain
Due to a lack of vitamin D intake, your child will face constant muscle and joint pains, especially in the knees, ankles, hands, and spinal cord. These muscle pains will be extremely difficult to bear and will not be caused by any injuries or heavy exercise. These pain incidents will occur naturally without any problem as a symptom.
Many parents ignore different types of body pains due to a child's behavior of exploring and hurting. Commonly, this is the first symptom of your child having vitamin D deficiency, which you should not ignore by giving them pain supplements. Severe body pain is one of the most basic symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, which occurs in the initial stages for a parent to look out for.
2. Inflammation
Along with severe body pain, the joints will be swollen, and there will be increased inflammation in the areas where the pain is inflicted. Everyday movement and flexibility will be challenging for children because of a lack of vitamin D and improper calcium absorption. Different hand movements, neck movements, or even walking will be a challenge, with the inflicted pain and inflammation in the child's body as one of the most major symptoms along with fever. The parents should always consult a doctor when giving any kind of pain or fever medicine to ensure that it is not a vitamin D deficiency instead of a viral fever.
3. Frequent Bone Injuries And Muscle Cramps
Another very common and one of the early symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is that you will notice that your child, when walking or playing, is almost immediately out of balance without any external disturbance. The frequency of hurting and muscle cramps has been increased in an unnatural amount. Vitamin D deficiency makes bones brittle and inflexible, resulting in frequent muscle cramps. Also, it is important to note that injuries in children while playing do not have a much larger effect. Small injuries with severe fractures, dislocations, or tears can also be a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency and how it can be cured along with its impacts, make sure that your child gets enough vitamin D according to the daily intake, keeping their health secure and immunity stronger. Try to experiment with your child's daily meals to incorporate a little bit of vitamin D in them and make them play outdoors for proper vitamin D from the sun.
The views expressed are that of the expert alone.
