Anemia - iron deficiency - children

Alternative names

Iron deficiency anemia - children

Definition

Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells, caused by a lack of sufficient iron.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein (pigment) in blood. Iron is normally obtained in the diet and by the recycling of iron from old red blood cells.

Babies are born with about 500mg of iron in their bodies. By the time they reach adulthood they need to have accumulated about 5000mg.

Children need to absorb an average of 1mg per day of iron to keep up with the needs of their growing bodies. Since children only absorb about 10% of the iron they eat, most children need to ingest 8-10mg per day of iron. Breast-fed babies need less, because iron is absorbed 3 times better when it is in breast milk.

Drinking too much cow's milk is a classic cause of iron deficiency in young children.

A common time for iron deficiency is between 9 and 24 months of age. All babies should have a screening test for iron deficiency at this age. Babies born prematurely may need to be tested earlier. The adolescent growth spurt is another high-risk period.

Iron deficiency in children can also be related to lead poisoning.

Symptoms

• Pale skin color (pallor)
  
• Fatigue
  
• Irritability
  
• Weakness
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Sore tongue
  
• Brittle nails
  
• Unusual food cravings (called pica)
  
• Decreased appetite (especially in children)
  
• Headache
  
• Blue-tinged or very pale sclerae (whites of eyes)
  

Note: There may be no symptoms if anemia is mild.

Signs and tests

• Low hematocrit and hemoglobin (red blood cell measures)
  
• Small red blood cells
  
• Low serum ferritin (serum iron) level
  
• High iron binding capacity (TIBC) in the blood
  
• Blood in stool (visible or microscopic)
  

Treatment