Anemia in children
Anemia is the deficit of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the body, discover the causes, symptoms and treatment of anemia in children.
The anemia is the lack of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the body . Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein present in red blood cells that allows the transport of oxygen to the tissues and, when it is too low, it means that the body does not receive enough oxygen, causing the appearance of it. Hemoglobin is key to a child’s development processes and is essential to protect against infection.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the normal hemoglobin level for children between 6 months and 4 years is 11 grams per deciliter . When these values are below, anemia is diagnosed. When anemia occurs in the first months and years of life, it can alter the psychomotor development and intelligence of the child, with long-term negative consequences.
Anemia is characterized by causing paleness, tiredness , fatigue and weakness, and can last for a long or short period. To determine the severity of the disease, we recommend that you take your child to the pediatrician to perform a blood test and determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
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SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD ANEMIA
Symptoms of childhood anemia vary depending on the level of severity of the disease. In the case that this is mild or moderate, children may present symptoms such as fatigue, pale skin, the inner part of the eyelids and the roots of the nails, a feeling of cold, lack of appetite, muscle weakness. , lack of energy and drowsiness.
In the most severe cases of anemia, increased irritability in their behavior , an increased heart rate and a total loss of appetite can be observed in children . In addition, a delay in their growth and psychomotor development can also be observed, as well as the continuous appearance of infections. Do not forget that, in this situation, it is important to have constant medical control.
To identify if the child may be suffering from the disease, parents must be very attentive to changes in your child’s behavior, especially if he is between 12 and 24 months, as development at that stage is more marked. You must be attentive to the paleness of the skin, if they have little energy, if their body temperature is low or if they have excessive sleep.
TREATMENT OF ANEMIA
The first thing you should do to determine if your child has anemia is to go to the doctor for a blood test, thus checking the level of hemoglobin in his body. The doctor will want to know the eating habits of both the child and the family, as well as their conduct and behavior.
Generally, when it is confirmed that the child has anemia, the doctor recommends that the child follow a varied and balanced diet rich in iron and vitamin B12 , present in red meat and organ meats, as well as raw green vegetables, rich in folic acid . This diet will be complemented by other oral preparations, which will contain iron and other essential vitamins for the health of your child. Both the dose and the vitamin supplement have to be recommended by the doctor.
The duration of the treatment will depend on the progress of the children once they have started with the diet and the vitamin supplements. This treatment lasts approximately three months, although it will remain in effect if the hemoglobin value in your child’s body has not normalized.
In cases of severe anemia, it may be influenced by pneumonia, asthma, respiratory failure or another type of disease, for which the use of a blood transfusion will be required , being used only in cases of severe anemia, anemia and pneumonia or asthma with moderate or severe respiratory failure.
IRON RICH FOODS
As mentioned above, to avoid childhood anemia we must provide our child with a good, varied, balanced diet rich in iron. The richest sources of iron are found in foods such as beef, chicken and fish, egg yolks, mussels, clams and cockles, organ meats (liver), legumes, vegetables (peas, spinach, broccoli …), vegetables of dark green leaf and fruits.
Iron absorption is most effective when ingested at the same time as citric acid . Therefore, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron from food. At mealtime, try giving your child a glass of orange juice while, for example, eating a good steak, as it will facilitate the absorption of iron. In the same way, avoid that your child ingest dairy in the same meal, such as cheese, yogurt, custard or custard.
Feeding the mother before and during the pregnancy is essential for the child born with good iron stores. It is very important that, during the first year of life, you do not give your child cow’s milk, as it can cause intestinal microbleeds and increase the risk of anemia. Therefore, it is essential to consume breast milk and foods rich in iron, to create barriers against this disease.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.