Anemia in Children: What Parents Should Know
Anemia refers to a situation when a child’s blood has less than the regular number of red blood cells or at least contains a reduced amount of haemoglobin – the part that carries oxygen in the body. Therefore, the “fuel” that the body runs on (oxygen) is in short supply. Think of your child’s body as a car that is almost out of gas; it gets tired very fast and cannot do all the work it is supposed to do.
Why Do Children Have Anemia?
Anemia in children may be caused by various factors, among which are the following:
- Not eating a diet rich in iron and lacking essential vitamins like B12 and folate.
- Diseases of the bone marrow, the organ that produces new blood cells.
- Certain genetic conditions, for example, sickle cell disease or thalassemia (these are inherited disorders).
- Excessive bleeding, e.g. from heavy menstrual periods in teenage girls or bleeding that is not visible internally.
- Certain infections and drug allergies can lead to the destruction of red blood cells in the body.
- Iron from food alone is not enough to meet the body’s needs. Children who are selective in their diet, grow rapidly, or have a special diet (e.g., vegetarian or vegan) should be taken care of in such a way that they get enough iron and vitamins.
Signs of Anemia in Children
Anemic children may first reveal such symptoms as:
- Arriving at a state of extreme fatigueness, they might also lack energy to the point that they could go out of this energy quite rapidly, and thus the case could be still happen even if they have just played or performed some activity for a very short time.
- Indicate paleness, and especially the skin, lips, or the area under the eyes could be very pale in color.Have problems with concentrating, and also learning things at school.
- Feel lightheaded, have low strength, and get pains in the head.
- Realise that their hands and feet are constantly cold, or that their nails become broken quite easily.
- Become infected more often, and their recovery will be slow.
- On top of that, children may become irritable and moody, and at the same time, have trouble growing.
- If a girl in her teenage years experiences very heavy periods, she must be particularly cautious, as she can lose a lot of blood and be at a higher risk.
How Anemia Changes Daily Life
If children have anemia making a climb by stairs or playing with friends may be a dull thing that can make them feel very exhausting. If a girl in her teenage years experiences very heavy periods, she must be particularly cautious as she can lose a lot of blood and be at a higher risk.
Anemia, as a condition, has the potential to affect the immune system of children negatively, and thus, they can become more prone to colds, and their recovery can be longer.
Tips for Parents and Kids
- Parent, make sure your kid keeps resting several times through the day apart from his/her work. An additional load of works or activities must not be imposed on your kid if his/her appearance is exhausted.
- Give your child a diet high in iron that should have eggs, meat, beans, lentils, spinach, a source of Vitamin C like an orange or tomatoes, vitamin B12, and folate.
- In case your child is a vegetarian, ensure that his/her diet includes nuts, legumes, leafy greens, and iron-fortified cereals. Vitamin C is necessary for iron absorption from plants.
How Do Doctors Check for Anemia in Children?
Doctors Will:
- Finding out more about the diet of the child, their growth, energy level, and whether the child has bleeding symptoms or if there is a bleeding history in the family.
- Conduct a physical examination focusing on the skin, nails, and general condition of the body.
- Complete blood tests, as a minimum, should include a Complete Blood Count (CBC), iron studies, Vitamin B12, and folate levels.
- When the origin of the problem is not identified by these tests, additional work, such as bone marrow biopsy or concealed bleeding, may be required.
Treatment and Care
Anemia treatment in children is based on the causes:
- In case the diet of the child is deficient in iron, vitamin B12, or folate, it would be wise to provide the necessary supplements.
- Once the bleeding that has been going on quietly or medical problems that cause anemia have been identified, they should be treated.
- The development of genetic disorders like thalassemia or sickle cell condition may require additional treatment or medicines that help manage these diseases.
Preventing Anemia in Children
Parents can help prevent anemia by:
- Giving a child a healthy diet that should contain iron and vitamins.
- Making sure that your child takes breakfast and meals at regular intervals, mainly eating foods that help the body to produce healthy blood.
- Knowing the extreme tiredness, pale skin, weakness, and getting infections very often as symptoms.
- Checking with a doctor if the teenage girls have heavy periods.
- Blood tests should be made a regular habit for children who are more susceptible (those that are growing rapidly, being fussy with food, and have a family history of certain diseases).
When to See a Doctor
If your child is tired all the time, appears very pale, is sick and hence absent from school, and his/her growth is slow, then it is a must that you take your child to a pediatrician. A child’s early treatment is the very first way to get well fast and is also the best prevention of getting any problems later on.
At first, you may feel the need to bring your child to a hematologist who is an expert in children’s blood disorders such as Dr. Nandini Hazarika, The Most Suitable Aemia Specialist Doctor for Children in Delhi.
