Iron deficiency anemia is a syndrome characterized by a decrease in the formation of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the blood due to iron deficiency. Especially often this syndrome occurs in young children and adolescents, as the rapidly growing body needs iron.
The causes of iron deficiency anemia in children
There are three main groups of causes of anemia in children:
1. Accelerated growth of the body:
- in premature infants;
- in children of the first and second year of life;
- in adolescents.
2. Insufficient intake of iron in the body with food:
- the use in the diet of children of the first year of life not enriched with iron milk mixtures or cow's milk;
- late lure, inadequate introduction to the diet of a child over 6 months of foods rich in iron;
- vegetarianism and malnutrition in adolescents;
- a violation of the assimilation or transport of iron.
3. Loss of iron with blood:
- blood loss due to injuries;
- inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- menstrual bleeding in adolescent girls.
Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia in children
With mild anemia, the following symptoms are observed:
- lethargy;
- decreased appetite;
- irritability.
With moderate degree of anemia:
- apathy;
- significant reduction in motor activity;
- a strong decrease in appetite;
- tearfulness;
- dry skin and mucous membranes;
- thinning and hair loss;
- plaque on the tongue.
If the anemia develops into severe form, there are:
- retardation;
- lack of appetite;
- constipation;
- pallor and waxy skin tone;
- hair loss;
- thinning and layering of nails;
- seizures in the corners of the mouth;
- an increase in the abdomen (due to an increase in the size of the spleen and liver);
- adolescents may have a desire to eat clay, graphite, gnawing bricks.
At any stage of anemia, a blood test will show a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood. The degree of reduction of these indicators will allow to establish precisely the degree of development of iron deficiency anemia. Reduction of hemoglobin up to 80 g / l and erythrocytes up to 3.5x1012 / l - indicates an easy degree; up to 66 g / l and up to 2.8 × 1012 / l, respectively - about the average degree; up to 35 g / l and up to 1.4 x 1012 / l - about the severe degree of anemia.
How to treat anemia in children?
The basis for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children is the intake of iron preparations:
- for children of the first year of life - suspension of orferon, aloe syrup with iron;
- for children older than a year - preparations of ferroceron, feramide, ferroplex, gemostimulin and others;
- for teenagers - tardiffon, ferrogradution.
For better assimilation of iron preparations it is good to combine with ascorbic acid
As a rule, initially prescribe iron preparations for oral administration, orally. In case of intolerance to the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in severe syndrome, intramuscular or intravenous administration is prescribed.
Preparations of iron are prescribed in moderate doses, the exact dosage for your child will be calculated by the attending physician. The intake of increased doses of iron is not harmful, but it does not make sense either, since the absorption of iron by the human body is limited, the surplus simply will not be absorbed.