Spasmophilia

Spasmophilia – the disease which is closely connected with rickets shown in the form of tendency to spastic states which is most often observed at children of 2-18 months.

As a rule, the full-term and raised by breast milk children extremely seldom are ill a spasmophilia. Diseases are most often subject premature children with symptoms of rickets.

Thanks to the existing methods of prevention of rickets, the spasmophilia today, especially in severe forms, meets rather seldom.

Reasons of development of a spasmophilia

The vitamin D accumulation arising at use of the raised doses of this vitamin, and also in the early spring when there is its excess education in integuments is the reasons of development of a spasmophilia in children.

The raised vitamin D doses in active forms promote depression of function of epithelial bodies that in turn stimulates absorption of salts of some microelements (especially calcium and phosphorus) in intestines and their return absorption (reabsorption) in renal tubules. It causes development of an alkalosis, and also because of a hypocalcemia (decrease in concentration of calcium in blood) calcium is much laid in bones. The increase in neuromuscular excitability leading to developing of spasms is as a result observed.

Spasmophilia symptoms

The spasmophilia is shown both in hidden, and in an explicit form.

Usually to define the latent form of a spasmophilia at children rather difficult as at this form of a disease their psychomotor and physical development is normal, though rickets symptoms are observed.

The most typical manifestations of the latent form of a current of a spasmophilia are Lyust, Hvostek's symptoms, Erba, Trusso and Maslov. The latent form of a disease can arise because of influence of such provocative factors as a fright, vomiting, crying, at the same time it sometimes passes into an explicit form of a disease.

Main types of manifestation of an explicit spasmophilia at children are the laryngospasm, a carpopedal spasm, an eclampsia, and also their combination is possible.

The laryngospasm (differently – "rodimchik") is the most frequent display of a disease. A symptom of a spasmophilia is acute, rather sudden narrowing of a glottis which is observed at a fright or crying, and is characterized most often by closing of a glottis (partial or full).

Against the background of a laryngospasm there is a sonorous hoarse breath ("cock shout") along with the cyanosis frightened by a look and cold then. At sharply shown symptoms of a spasmophilia there can come the complete cessation of breath (up to 2 seconds) leading to a loss of consciousness. As a rule, upon termination of an attack the sonorous deep breath with gradual recovery of breath is observed.

In hard cases attacks of a laryngospasm can repeat to several times a day, and at long apnoeas the lethal outcome is possible.

The carpopedal spasm occurs at children less often. It is shown in the form of tonic spasms of the person, brushes and feet. This form of a spasmophilia at children is determined by a characteristic look – brushes are lowered down, hands in elbows are bent, shoulders are pressed to a trunk, the thumb is pressed to a palm, knee and coxofemoral joints are bent. Depending on a current of a spasmophilia the spasm can proceed of 2-10 minutes till several o'clock. Against the background of a long spasm there can be a puffiness on the back of feet and brushes, and because of a spasm of circular muscles of a mouth sometimes there is a so-called "fish mouth".

The eclampsia belongs to the most dangerous form of a spasmophilia. It is most characteristic of children of the first year of life. At an eclampsia kloniko-tonic spasms with a loss of consciousness are observed. At the beginning of an attack the sharp blanching of the person accompanied with catalepsy with the expressed twitching of face muscles at a corner of a mouth or an eye is shown. After that extremities begin to twitch, breath is broken, being interrupted by very short breaths that leads to emergence of cyanosis. After rigidity emergence usually there is a loss of consciousness.

In many cases of a spasm develop at night when the child sleeps. The eclampsia usually proceeds no more than half-minute. At this time heart and breath can stop.

Diagnosis and treatment of a spasmophilia

At suspicion on a spasmophilia diagnose children with symptoms of rickets aged up to two years, as a rule, in the spring. From laboratory researches the hypophosphatemia, a hypocalcemia and a metabolic alkalosis have to be confirmed, and also the critical level of decrease in calcium in blood – lower than 1,75 mmol/l has to be observed.

Treatment of a spasmophilia includes medicamentous stopping of a convulsive syndrome drugs Relanium, Seduxenum, GAMK, magnesium sulfate. In blood apply solution of 10% of a gluconate of calcium to increase in level of calcium. In addition, carry out therapy on elimination of an alkalosis (3-5% by ammonium chloride solution).

Further treatment of a spasmophilia is carried out by means of vitamin therapy and, after recovery of level of calcium to blood, by purposes of vitamin D in medical doses.

At an attack of a laryngospasm follows:

• To lay the child on a firm plain surface;
• To provide access of air and to undo clothes;
• To sprinkle cold water a face and a body, to cause irritation mucous a nose liquid ammonia or in a different way and to carry out therapy by a calcium gluconate (intravenously) and Relanium (intramusculary).

If the carried-out measures for stopping of an attack of a spasmophilia do not help, carry out an intubation of a trachea and an indirect cardiac massage (at a cardiac standstill).

Spasmophilia at adults

It is considered that the spasmophilia at adults does not develop. However there is a number of the symptoms similar to the course of this disease which often occur at adults and will not respond to diagnosis and effective treatment. They are connected with any spasms, especially during backfilling, goosebumps on a body, cold sense and a chill.

Doctors in France conduct spasmophilia researches at adults. According to the obtained data, women with a lack of calcium of an organism are most of all subject to this disease.

For treatment of a spasmophilia and stopping of attacks it is recommended to eat the products saturated with calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. As in most cases development of attacks of a spasmophilia provokes a stress and conflict situations, it is recommended to be able to control breath and to relax that is promoted by occupations yoga and meditation.