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{'content': 'Providing ample calcium ensures healthy growth and well-proportioned stature in children. Calcium deficiency is a leading cause of bone deformities, delayed growth, and various health issues. Therefore, parents must know how to assess calcium deficiency in their children and take appropriate supplementation measures for their little ones.', 'id': 1}
{'content': '1. Assessing Calcium Deficiency in Children: Observing the Body', 'id': 4}
{'content': 'Our bodies always signal our health status, and for young children, the easiest way to check for calcium deficiency is to observe specific signs on their bodies.', 'id': 5}
1.1. Checking for calcium deficiency in children: Observing the hair
A clear sign of calcium deficiency in children is the pattern of hair loss resembling a hairband. Short or no hair on the back of the head may result from insufficient vitamin D absorption and a deficient body.
1.2. Checking for calcium deficiency in children: Observing the fontanel
One of the essential methods to assess calcium deficiency in children is examining the fontanel and bones. In young children, the fontanel is the soft spot between the skull bones above the forehead.
Check the toddler's crawling speed to determine if the child is lacking calcium
Around 12 months - 18 months of age, toddlers will start crawling. However, if parents notice that the toddler's crawling is still incomplete after this period, it could be an indication of calcium deficiency.
1.3. Children with calcium deficiency often have stunted growth, vomiting, and disturbed sleep
The next way to check for calcium deficiency in toddlers is to observe their sleep and post-meal behavior. Stunted growth or vomiting after meals is a common condition in infants. However, this occurs more frequently if the child is deficient in calcium. Because calcium deficiency can affect the nervous system, the esophagus can contract, causing breathing difficulties and stomach contractions that lead to stunted growth, vomiting, and nausea.
Children have difficulty sleeping, sleep restlessly, and especially cry at night, which could very well be a sign of calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency will inhibit the central nervous system's activity, causing the child to be excessively agitated and exhibit the symptoms mentioned above.
1.4. How to check calcium deficiency in children: Observe the child's teeth
Calcium is the main component in the formation of a child's teeth. Slow tooth growth (after 13 months without any teeth) or tooth decay are common signs of calcium deficiency in children.
Calcium deficiency can lead to delayed tooth growth in children
Calcium deficiency not only delays the growth of a child's teeth compared to their peers but also causes other dental issues such as spaced teeth, misaligned teeth, loose teeth, and easy tooth loss. Therefore, if the child is experiencing one or more of these conditions, it's highly likely that the child is deficient in calcium, and mothers should consider supplementing calcium or taking the child for a check-up right away!
>> READ MORE: SUPPLEMENTING CALCIUM FOR SLOW-TOOTHED CHILDREN: IS IT NECESSARY AND HOW TO SUPPLEMENT?
1.5. How to check calcium deficiency in children through sweat
Night sweating may be due to hot and stuffy weather. However, if the room is cool and well-ventilated, and your child sweats a lot at night, it could be a sign of calcium and vitamin D deficiency, especially in infants. This is a fairly accurate way to check for calcium deficiency in children, especially those who are 3 months old.
1.6. Some other ways to check for calcium deficiency in children
- Child shows delayed walking
In cases where the body is not supplied with enough calcium, the child may exhibit delayed walking or joint deformities. Typically, children will learn to walk faster when provided with sufficient calcium. When lacking calcium, activities such as crawling, standing, and walking will be slower due to weak and flexible muscles.
- Body fatigue
The child becomes lethargic, tired, and often complains of joint pain. The reason is that calcium is always considered a primary component of bones, and if not provided enough, the bones become weak, unable to support the body, and cannot ensure other activities of the body. Additionally, for children over 18 months, calcium deficiency often leads to leg cramps.
- Diminished awareness
One of the essential minerals for transmitting signals to the nervous system is calcium. Therefore, if a child has slow awareness, poor reactions, and lacks flexibility in activities, it is highly likely that the amount of calcium in the child's body is not adequately supplied. At this point, parents need to pay attention to enhancing calcium supplementation for the child.
>> READ MORE: 1 YEAR OF SUPPLEMENTING CALCIUM FOR BABY HOW MANY TIMES AND HOW LONG TO STOP
2. Scientific methods to check for calcium deficiency in children
If parents want a more accurate assessment of their child's calcium deficiency, they can consider the following methods:
2.1. How to check for calcium deficiency in children through bone density testing
Checking bone density can help parents assess calcium deficiency in children as it can reflect the thickness of the bones. However, bone density is determined by at least two factors: calcium and muscle strength. Therefore, in addition to https://pasgo.vn/blog/calcium-for-1-year-olds-calcium-needs-types-and-supplementation-methods-thumkt-4942, parents also need to pay attention to physical exercise for their child.
2.2. How to check for calcium deficiency in children through chemical analysis
When noticing signs of calcium deficiency in a child and wanting a more precise assessment, parents can opt for a chemical analysis. This type of test is crucial for diagnosing and treating diseases caused by nutrient deficiencies. Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, young children, and the elderly are high-risk groups for nutrient deficiencies that need to be regularly checked for timely detection and supplementation.
3. Is calcium deficiency in children dangerous, and how should it be treated?
Experts always advise parents to pay attention to supplementing calcium for their children because:
3.1. Child's health when experiencing calcium deficiency
Calcium deficiency can lead to physical and mental issues in children. Specifically:
+Rickets disease. In cases of calcium deficiency, a child's skeletal framework does not develop to its fullest, leading to rickets. Calcium-deficient children are often stunted, with underdeveloped bones restricting their height compared to peers of the same age.
Calcium deficiency adversely affects a child's height
- Malnutrition: Calcium is also involved with certain enzymes in food digestion. Therefore, in cases of calcium deficiency, a child's ability to absorb nutrients decreases significantly, putting them at risk of malnutrition.
- Weakened immune system: Calcium plays a crucial role in the immune system's functioning. Hence, calcium deficiency can lead to a weakened immune system, making the child susceptible to external factors.
- Moreover, calcium-deficient children are prone to bone deformities, nervous system disorders (frequent night jerking), and interrupted height development,...
>> READ MORE: WHAT DISEASES DOES CALCIUM DEFICIENCY CAUSE IN CHILDREN? WARNING ABOUT NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON HEALTH
3.2. How to supplement calcium for children
However, calcium deficiency is not a dangerous and difficult-to-treat disease; it can be addressed by daily calcium supplementation for children:
- Ensure the child drinks milk regularly every week as it is rich in calcium, and dairy products are abundant sources of calcium. Maintain a diverse diet with other calcium-rich foods such as seafood, fish, eggs, various vegetables (kale, broccoli, spinach,...), and various legumes.
- Provide the child with calcium supplements. However, parents should take the child for a check-up to determine the extent of calcium deficiency and seek advice on the type of calcium the child should take.
Parents should take the child to see a doctor for the most accurate diagnosis
- When supplementing calcium, it's advisable to combine with vitamin D3, vitamin K2 Mk7, and expose the child to sunlight for about 15-20 minutes each day to enhance calcium absorption. Note to have the child exposed to sunlight before 9 am to avoid excessive ultraviolet intensity.
The above are ways to check for calcium deficiency in children that parents can refer to. However, observing these signs on the child's body is only part of the correct diagnosis. To ensure certainty, when you frequently notice signs of calcium deficiency in your child, it is recommended to take the child for a medical examination. The doctor will diagnose and prescribe the appropriate amount of calcium supplement.
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