Does scoliosis affect your baby's health?

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

Scoliosis, although treatable, can worsen if not treated promptly, potentially leading to physical deformities and affecting the child's normal development in various aspects. The most common hazards are as follows:
Bone changes. Cranial deformities are common, with a square-shaped head being prevalent. Delayed teething, where teeth do not erupt by the age of ten months, is common. The teeth that do erupt lack enamel, making them prone to cavities.
Enlarged fontanelles and delayed closure. In normal children, the anterior fontanelle closes between one to one and a half years of age. However, in children with scoliosis, the fontanelle remains open beyond one and a half years.
Chest deformities, such as pigeon chest or funnel chest. Abnormal chest shape can impair respiratory function and reduce lung capacity.
Spinal curvature. Due to the weight of the torso and traction, the spine may develop lordosis (posterior curvature) or scoliosis (lateral curvature).
Pelvic deformities. In girls, this can lead to difficult labor during adulthood.
Limb deformities. Commonly, the lower limbs develop genu varum (O-shaped legs) or genu valgus (X-shaped legs). In severe cases, fractures may even occur.