Child health topics

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is a result of a decrease of hemoglobin in red blood cells circulating in the body. Hemoglobin is a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Iron is needed to form red blood cells, and when there's not enough, either because the child is not getting enough iron in his or her diet or because the iron isn't being absorbed normally, the red blood cell count goes down.

Causes
Anemia often results from poor nutrition. Infants and young children often drink a lot of milk instead of iron-rich foods. Breast milk generally provides an adequate amount of iron until a baby is about six months old. After that, you should serve iron-fortified cereal to your child each day. Premature babies often have iron deficiency anemia because they may be born with a low supply of iron. Adolescents who are growing quickly may develop anemia as may young women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding.

Symptoms

• Tiredness and weakness
• Paleness, particularly in the hands and lower eyelid lining
• Tongue swelling and redness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Abdominal discomfort
• Cravings for ice, paint or dirt

What you should do

• Provide your child with a well-balanced diet that includes high-iron foods such as meat, fish, poultry, whole or enriched grains, leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits.
• Limit milk to a pint per day (except for infants on a milk diet). Milk interferes with how the body absorbs iron.
• Check with your doctor to see if you should give iron supplements to your child. If so, make sure your child takes iron on an empty stomach, at least a half hour before eating
• Keep iron tablets out of reach of small children. Too much iron can poison your child.
• Iron supplements may cause constipation. Add high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your child's diet.
• If your child is diagnosed with anemia, avoid taking him or her to crowded places where the risk of infection may be high.
• Make sure bottle-fed babies are getting iron-fortified formula.

When to call the doctor
Anemia may also indicate a more serious disease, so it's important to bring your child to the doctor if he or she has symptoms of anemia. Your doctor can perform tests to determine the cause of your child's symptoms.

Reviewed: Robert LaCamera, MD
Last revised: June 7, 2007 (dh)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.