Kaschin-Beck Disease

Kaschin-Beck Disease is a disease with obvious endemicity, which is more common in mountainous areas. Adolescents are the main group affected by this disease. Currently, there is no particularly effective treatment for it. It can lead to growth disorders and deformities of bone and joints in patients, so its harm is very significant. This harm is not only physical, but also has a significant impact on the psychological well-being of patients. Let's take a closer look at the relevant content about Kaschin-Beck Disease.

What is Kaschin-Beck Disease?

Kaschin-Beck Disease refers to an endemic and deformative osteoarthropathy, also known as dwarf disease or abacus bead disease domestically. In international medical circles, it is called Kaschin-Beck disease. Abroad, Kaschin-Beck Disease is mainly distributed in the eastern Siberia and northern Korea. In China, it is widely distributed from the northeast to the southwest, mainly occurring in provinces such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, and Shanxi. It is mostly distributed in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, and rarely seen in plains. It can occur in all age groups, with children and adolescents being the most affected, while adults rarely develop the disease, and there is no significant gender difference.

Is Kaschin-Beck Disease Serious?

1. If Kaschin-Beck Disease occurs during childhood, it can lead to premature ossification of the epiphyseal plate, resulting in developmental disorders and manifesting as dwarfism. The patient may have a short stature, enlarged joints, pain, and limited range of motion. The ankle joint is usually the first to be affected, followed by the finger joints, knee, elbow, wrist, toe joints, and hip. Due to inconsistent fusion rates of the epiphyseal plate, the lower limbs often develop knee varus, knee valgus, or hip varus deformities. The fingers may be short and stubby, and the feet may be flat. The younger the age of onset, the more severe the deformity.

2. If Kaschin-Beck Disease occurs during late adolescence, the deformity may be less pronounced. The main manifestations are osteoarthritis symptoms, such as joint swelling, a small amount of fluid, a grinding sensation during movement, and locking symptoms. Sometimes, free bodies can also be detected within the joint. The disease often affects the lower limbs of adults, causing pain and swelling in the ankles and knees, which can greatly hinder walking.

Causes of Kaschin-Beck Disease

The causes of Kaschin-Beck Disease are still unknown. It was once suspected to be caused by chronic oral poisoning, but this has not been confirmed. Many people believe that it may be related to pathogenic mold in grains. Animal experiments have shown that animals fed with grains containing pathogenic mold develop pathological changes in their bones that are similar to those seen in Kaschin-Beck Disease. The pathogenic mold is suspected to be Fusarium, but this has not been fully confirmed.