Iron deficiency anemia in children: What you need to know

Iron deficiency anemia in children is quite common, especially in rural areas. Mainly because the diet is not varied and does not provide enough iron. This condition, if not detected and corrected early, can lead to many health, mental and motor problems for children.

Iron is one of the important micronutrients in the body. Although the body's iron requirements are very small, iron is very important for many vital functions of the body.
The possible roles of iron include:
Iron is a constituent of hemoglobin, an important component of red blood cells. The role of hemoglobin is to transport oxygen from the lungs to all organs inside the body. Iron is involved in the formation of myoglobin, a pigment component of muscles. In addition, iron is also involved in the construction of many immune system enzymes. This helps the immune system work more efficiently.
Iron deficiency can cause many problems of the body. In it, it will cause iron deficiency anemia, especially more common in children. Iron deficiency anemia in children will affect the child's physical and mental development later on, especially it can cause mental and motor disorders of the child. Therefore, early detection of iron deficiency and timely treatment are very important for the development of children.
Watch now: Instructions for taking care of children with iron deficiency anemia

Possible causes of iron deficiency anemia in children include:
Insufficient supply: One of the most common causes of this condition is an inadequate supply of iron. Possible causes of insufficient supply include an iron-deficient diet such as lack of breast milk, frequent intake of non-iron fortified formula milk, vegetarianism of children, and lack of original food by parents who are fed powdered foods. animal. When the baby is 6 months old, the baby needs to be introduced to solid foods because milk no longer has enough nutrients for the baby, especially iron. If iron-fortified foods are not given solid foods or if some children start weaning about 7 to 8 months late, they can cause iron deficiency in 8-month-old children or if they are not found enough, Iron deficiency can affect children for a long time. Lack of iron stores when the baby is still in the womb: The developing fetus in the womb not only receives nutrients from the mother for development and perfection, but also some nutrients that need to be stored, including iron. The process of iron accumulation in the fetus takes place quite early, normally after full term babies will accumulate about 25-3,000 mg of iron. This accumulated iron is slowly used by the body for hematopoiesis during the first 3 to 4 months postpartum, when the absorption and nutritional capacity are not met. Therefore, for children who lack iron stores, it may be due to premature birth, twins or pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy, it also causes iron deficiency anemia in children. Children grow rapidly: Children with rapid growth in weight and height after birth need a higher amount of iron. But if the supply is not enough compared to the growing needs of the child, it can cause iron deficiency anemia in children. Due to diseases that cause reduced iron absorption: Children have to have duodenectomy or gastrectomy; Inflammatory bowel disease (such as ileo-jejunitis, autoimmune enteritis...); Absorption disorders; Gastric ulcers ... all reduce the absorption of iron in the body. Chronic blood loss: Children can lose blood due to causes such as helminth infections, especially hookworms, beakworms, pinworms...; peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum causing bleeding; intestinal polyps; nosebleed; heavy periods in girls during puberty... In addition, other less common causes may include: Surgery; injured; Prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs...

Clinical manifestations of iron deficiency anemia in children are often very poor, difficult to recognize and it usually occurs gradually, gradually. Here are some common manifestations of iron deficiency anemia:
Children with iron deficiency anemia often have pale, pale skin. This sign is most obvious in the ears, face, palms, soles, pharynx, pale conjunctiva. Children are often slower than normal, feel tired, have poor concentration, are sleepy, and play less than they used to or their peers. If severe anemia can cause symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath when exertion (running, vigorous exercise), unexplained weight loss, digestive disorders, mild splenomegaly... Children are prone to respiratory infections or skin infections, mental and motor retardation. School-age children often have poor concentration and memory loss, leading to inefficient learning results. Children with iron-deficiency anemia that are not recognized by adults through clinical signs may be diagnosed with other medical conditions or general physical examination. Manifestations on the test include:
Blood tests: The number of red blood cells is often reduced, red blood cells are small and hypochromic; hemoglobin decreased. Laboratory: Iron and ferritin (Storage iron) decreased. If mild, ferritin usually does not decrease. Tests to find the cause: Can look for hidden blood in the stool, find eggs or larvae of worms, gastrointestinal diseases...

4.1 Principles of treatment It is mainly necessary to solve the cause of iron deficiency such as if worms need to be dewormed, gastrointestinal diseases need to be treated... Supplement the amount of iron in accordance with the level of iron deficiency. It is necessary to adjust the iron supplement diet for children in the most appropriate way.

4.2 Specific treatment Oral iron supplementation can be used at a dose of 3 to 5 mg elemental iron/kg/day depending on the severity of anemia. Usually used in combination with folic acid. Should be given to children when hungry or during meals to avoid causing stomach upset. Taking the medicine can cause side effects such as abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, and dark stools. The shelf life is about 3 to 6 months. Note to avoid taking with milk because it can reduce iron absorption, at least 2 hours from calcium-rich foods to ensure the best absorption of iron. Take vitamin C supplements or drink fruit juices high in vitamin C to increase iron absorption. Treatment of the cause of iron deficiency: It is often necessary to find and treat the cause of iron deficiency to avoid recurrent iron deficiency. Blood transfusion: In cases of severe anemia your doctor may consider a blood transfusion. However, it is very limited to use in this case, only doing it when absolutely necessary. 4.3 Prophylaxis of iron-deficiency anemia in children Breastfeeding for at least the first year. If in some cases it is not possible to breastfeed, use formula but need iron supplements for babies in the first year of life. Avoid taking iron-containing foods at the same time as milk because dairy products reduce iron absorption. Limit the amount of milk given to the child to no more than 500ml, because it reduces iron absorption. Do not drink tea or coffee immediately after eating to reduce iron absorption. Annual deworming for children over 24 months old. In addition, parents need to pay attention: When children of weaning age need to eat a balanced diet rich in iron, vitamins and minerals. Food sources of iron include:
Plants: Include dark green leafy vegetables such as water spinach, broccoli; whole grains ; kinds of bean; dried fruit... Animals: Red meat such as pork, beef, lamb, seafood such as crab, salmon, tuna, shrimp, scallops or eggs, poultry, animal organs. .. Note that iron from animal sources is often easier to absorb than plant sources, so it is necessary to combine both these additional sources to ensure nutrition for children. If children need to absorb iron faster, they should combine foods rich in vitamin C such as guava, grapes, grapefruit, lemon, oranges, kiwi, tangerines...
Iron deficiency anemia in children is often difficult to detect at an early stage. . Therefore, a general health examination for children is necessary to detect iron deficiency anemia early. In addition, parents should give children a varied diet so that they do not lack any nutrients, helping children develop the most comprehensively.