Iron is an essential mineral that helps our muscles to work, gives us energy and drives the brain function of the brain. It is important at any age, but especially for children who need iron to grow.
When a person does not have enough iron in his blood, the body cannot make hemoglobin, which is part of red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. This leads to less healthy red blood cells and the condition called anemia by iron deficiency.
Anemia due to iron deficiency is the most common form of anemia. However, even in the absence of anemia, iron deficiency can influence the concentration and lead to fatigue. Although any form of new diagnosis can feel scary, this condition can be treated greatly and anemia can usually be resolved with the right supplementation.
This is what parents need to know about anemia due to iron deficiency.
Who runs the most risk of anemia due to iron deficiency?
Anemia due to iron deficiency can be caused by problems with iron absorption, a lack of iron in the diet or blood loss. Babies and young children need a larger amount of iron as they grow and develop, so that they bring a higher risk of developing anemia.
Although anemia due to iron deficiency is most common in younger children, this can also influence older children; For example teenage girls who lose blood during menstruation. Nutrition -sided iron deficiency is extremely rare in the US in children older than 3, and other causes of iron deficiency must first be investigated.
Diet and iron deficiency anemia
Babies get iron iron in the last trimester of pregnancy. Babies who run the risk of not getting enough iron are usually premature babies or multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) who have to share the amount of iron given by Mom. Babies receive iron from their mother when they breastfeed, or through a reinforced formula.
As soon as babies start to eat, they must get a diet that is rich in iron.
Examples of iron -rich food are:
- Meat
- Seafood
- Legumes
- Dark leaf -green vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Egg
- Painted foods based on grain such as breakfast cereals, bread and pasta
- Cow’s milk and iron deficiency anemia
Anemia Due to iron deficiency can also be seen in young children who drink too much cow’s milk. Milk naturally contains little iron and can even prevent iron absorption from other foods due to the high levels of calcium and casein.
Drinking milk before a meal can also lead to the child feeling full and does not eat enough iron -rich food. A large volume of cow’s milk can also irritate the intestinal tract and lead to a small amount of hidden bleeding (ie iron loss).
Guidance to follow when feeding cow’s milk for very young children:
- Cow milk is not recommended for children under 1 year old.
- Children from 1 to 2 years old can drink full milk per day 16 to 24 grams (2 to 3 cups).
- After 2 years old, children must get lean milk.
- Children from 2 to 5 years old can drink 16 to 20 grams (2-2.5 cups) low-fat or low-fat milk per day.
Most milk in the US is reinforced with added vitamins and minerals, including iron. The unfortunate cow’s milk can be dangerous for babies or children if they are dried out by diarrhea, and it also has too many proteins, which can lead to obesity later in life.
How do you know if your child has anemia due to iron deficiency?
Symptoms of anemia iron deficiency include:
- Irritability
- Shortness of breath
- Desire for unusual things, such as dirt, paint, starch, ice cream
- Lack of appetite
- Fatigue, weakness or dizziness
How you can diagnose anemia through iron deficiency
To test for anemia through iron deficiency, your caregiver will probably perform a blood test that measures the hemoglobin levels and can do blood tests to measure iron.
Symptoms of anemia iron deficiency often overlap with symptoms for other disorders, so it is important to confirm the diagnosis with your care provider.
How you can treat anemia through iron deficiency
The best way to treat anemia of iron deficiency is through healthy, iron -rich food.
Specific examples of iron -rich food are:
- Apricots
- Chicken and turkey
- Dried beans, lentils and soybeans
- Liver
- Syrup
- Oatmeal
- Peanut butter
- Plums, pruning juice and raisins
- Spinach and kale
Children can experience significant long -term problems if iron deficiency is not corrected, even if their red blood cells and hemoglobin seem normal.
Some of those long -term problems are:
- Reduced response to immunisations
- Reduced capacity to learn
- Reduced concentration, attention span and alertness
- The absorption of the body of more lead (which can lead to learning and behavioral problems)
In some cases, your care provider will prescribe Iron supplements. Only give the dose recommended by the provider and give it with vitamin C-strengthened fruit juice to help the body absorb the iron. Never give a supplements of a child without the prescription from your care provider, because giving too much iron can lead to poisoning.
Top treatment for red blood cell disorders
The Red Blood Cell Disorders program at Chla uses a team approach to provide extensive care in a child-friendly environment. The program deals with all types of anemia, including rare genetic anemies, complex anemies and secondary anemies. Families looking for treatment, regardless of their diagnosis, can count on personalized treatments, emotional support, clinical examinations and therapies to prevent complications.
Thomas Coates, MD, is the chief of hematology in the Los Angeles children’s hospital, which helps to offer extensive treatments for anemia due to iron deficiency through his Red Blood Cell Disorders program.