Children’s anemia is a prevalent health issue. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia. Anemia is caused by a lack of iron, which results in the production of less hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is a protein that allows red blood cells to transport oxygen to other bodily cells. Hemoglobin is made up of iron. Anemia is usually improved by taking iron supplements.
Now as a parent you must be worried about what causes iron deficiencies in your children. We are here to share all details with you. You will find answers to your all questions so keep scrolling.
What Causes Iron Deficiency Anemia In Children?
Iron-deficiency anemia can be induced by a variety of factors, including:
Iron-deficient diets
- The iron in a child’s diet comes from the foods he or she eats. However, the body absorbs just a small portion of the iron in its diet.
- Iron is present in full-term infants born to healthy mothers during the last three months of pregnancy.
- Infants born to mothers who have anemia or other health issues may not have enough iron stored in their bodies. And infants born early may not get enough iron.
- The iron accumulated during pregnancy is at a low level at 4 to 6 months of age. As the baby grows, more iron is consumed.
- For the first six months, the Pakistan Infant Young Child Feeding Strategy IYCF recommends exclusively feeding your baby breastmilk. However, because breastmilk is low in iron, infants who are exclusively breastfed may be deficient in iron.
- Iron deficiency in older infants and toddlers is a possibility.
- The human body evolves– During a growth period, the body needs extra iron to produce more red blood cells.
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract– After certain types of gastrointestinal procedures, poor iron absorption is frequent. The majority of iron is absorbed in the upper small intestine when you eat iron-rich meals. Any abnormalities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract might induce iron deficiency anemia by altering iron absorption.
- There is a blood loss– Iron deficiency can occur as a result of blood loss. GI bleeding, menstrual bleeding, and injury are all possible causes of blood loss.
We have discussed the causes of Iron deficiency among children now let’s find out how you can identify iron deficiency signs in your kids.
What Are Iron Deficiency Symptoms In Kids
The following are the most typical signs and symptoms of anemia caused by iron deficiency:
- Pale skin
- Irritability and fussiness are both examples of irritability.
- Experiencing a lack of energy or becoming easily exhausted (fatigue)
- A rapid heartbeat
- The tongue that is sore or swollen
- Spleen enlargement
- A desire to consume unusual foods, such as dirt or ice (also called pica)
Diagnosis Of Iron Deficiency Anemia In Children
Simple blood tests such as CBC test is used to detect anemia in the majority of instances. Because anemia is widespread in youngsters and they may have no symptoms, That’s why routine anemia screening is performed to find out its presence.
- Anemia screening with a hemoglobin blood test is recommended for all newborns at 12 months of age.
- A risk assessment should also be included in the screening. This is a set of questions used to identify risk factors for anemia caused by iron deficiency. Feeding issues, low growth, and particular healthcare demands are all risk factors.
- More blood tests are performed if the hemoglobin level is low.
- Blood tests are performed if your child has a risk factor at any age.
- Anemia blood tests can be performed on children of any age during normal physical exams or checkups.
These blood tests are used to identify anemia in children:
- Hemoglobin and hematocrit are two different types of hemoglobin. In children, this is frequently the first screening test for anemia. It determines how much hemoglobin and red blood cells are present in the blood.
- A full blood count (CBC). A complete blood count examines red and white blood cells, blood clotting cells (platelets), and immature red blood cells, among other things (reticulocytes). Hemoglobin and hematocrit are included, as well as more information regarding red blood cells.
- Smear in the periphery– Under a microscope, a little sample of blood is analyzed. Blood cells are examined to see if they appear to be normal.
- Studies on iron– Blood tests can be used to determine how much iron is in your child’s body.
How To Treat Iron Deficiency Symptoms In Children?
A doctor will decide on the best treatment for your child based on his or her symptoms, age, and general well-being. It will also depend on how bad the condition is, and how long it has been going on.
In order to avoid iron-deficiency anemia, your child should;
- Every day until they start, babies should get an iron supplement. They should start taking it at 4 months old.
- They don’t need to take iron supplements if they are fed formula. To make the recipe, iron has been put in. There should be no whole milk given to babies under the age of 12 months old.
- They should eat iron-riched foods from the time they are 1 to 3 years old. They include cereal that has iron added, red meats, and vegetables with iron, as well as other foods that have iron.
- Children should eat fruits that have a lot of vitamin C as well as other foods. Vitamin C helps the body get rid of the iron that it has.
Things You Should Consider
To avoid iron deficiency anemia in babies, feed your child breast milk or iron-enriched formula for the first year. Iron isn’t good for babies, and cow’s milk isn’t good for babies under one year old.
At least twice a day, start giving your baby iron-enriched cereals. This will help your little one get more iron.
Children should not drink more than 20 ounces (591 millilitres) of milk a day after one year. Milk often takes the place of other foods, like those that are high in iron. In case you identify iron symptoms you should consult your child’s doctor. He will recommend you medicines and food accordingly.