Patient's question:
Due to calcium deficiency, I have been having trouble sleeping. I received a D3 shot about two and a half months ago. Can I get another shot now? I have been taking calcium supplements and cod liver oil. How many drops of cod liver oil should I take daily?Duration and onset of the current illness:
Doctor's answer:
If diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency rickets, it can be treated with vitamin D3 injections. First and foremost, it's important to clarify that the deficiency refers to vitamin D deficiency rickets, not calcium deficiency. In fact, it's a lack of vitamin D, not calcium, that's the issue. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption. Therefore, simply supplementing with calcium won't work because it won't be absorbed. You need to supplement with vitamin D preparations to help with calcium absorption.Vitamin D deficiency rickets is more common in children under the age of 3. In the early stages, symptoms include night sweats, crying at night, and irritability. In later stages, there may be skeletal changes, leading to conditions such as a square skull, costochondral junctions (beaded ribs), rib flaring, and severe cases can result in O-shaped legs, X-shaped legs, pigeon chest, and funnel chest.