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Anemia - iron deficiency - children
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells bring oxygen to body tissues.
There are many types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood due to a lack of iron.
This article focuses on iron deficiency anemia in children.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. You get iron through certain foods, and your body also reuses iron from old red blood cells.
Iron deficiency (too little iron) may be caused by:
Babies are born with iron stored in their bodies. Because they grow rapidly, infants and children need to absorb an average of 1 mg of iron per day.
Since children only absorb about 10% of the iron they eat, most children need to receive 8-10 mg of iron per day. Breastfed babies need less, because iron is absorbed 3 times better when it is in breast milk.
Cow' s milk is a common cause of iron deficiency. It contains less iron than many other foods and also makes it more difficult for the body to absorb iron from other foods. Cow's milk also can cause the intestines to lose small amounts of blood.
The risk of developing iron deficiency anemia is increased in:
Iron deficiency anemia most commonly affects babies 9 - 24 months old. All babies should have a screening test for iron deficiency at this age. Babies born prematurely may need to be tested earlier.
Iron deficiency in children also can be related to lead poisoning.
Note: There may be no symptoms if anemia is mild.
The health care provider will perform a physical exam. A blood sample is taken and sent to a laboratory for examination. Iron-deficient red blood cells appear small and pale when looked at under a microscope.
Specific tests that may be done include:
A measurement called iron saturation often can give a good assessment of whether you have enough iron in your body.
Treatment involves iron supplements (ferrous sulfate), which are taken by mouth. The iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, but many people need to take the supplements with food to avoid stomach upset.
If you cannot tolerate iron supplements by mouth, iron may be given by injection into a muscle or through a vein (IV).
Milk and antacids can interfere with iron absorption and should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements.
Iron-rich foods include raisins, meats (especially liver), fish, poultry, egg yolks, legumes (peas and beans), and whole-grain bread.
With treatment, the outcome is likely to be good. In most cases, the blood counts will return to normal in 2 months. It is essential to determine the cause of the iron deficiency. If it is being caused by blood loss other than monthly menstruation, further investigation will be needed.
You should continue taking iron supplements for another 6 to 12 months after blood counts return to normal, or as your health care provider recommends. This will help the body rebuild its iron storage.
Iron supplementation improves learning, memory, and cognitive test performance in adolescents who have low levels of iron. Iron supplementation also improves the performance of athletes with anemia and iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency anemia can affect school performance. Low iron levels are an important cause of decreased attention span, reduced alertness, and learning difficulties, both in young children and adolescents.
Excess amounts of lead may be absorbed by people with iron deficiency.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants be fed breast milk or iron-fortified formula for at least 12 months. The AAP does NOT recommend giving cow's milk to children under 1 year old.
Diet is the most important way to prevent and treat iron deficiency.
Good sources of iron include:
Better sources of iron include:
The best sources of iron include:
Glader B. Iron-deficiency anemia. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 455.
Heird WC. The feeding of infants and children. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 42.
O'Connor NR. Infant formula. Am Fam Physician. 2009;79:565-570.
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