A few years ago when I was sent to a remote area to serve my country, there is a certain incident that wouldn't stop playing on my head, it was the demise of a little charming child who was sick and because there was no hospital in the village, the child died. The child died of Anemia because I was so concerned about what could have led to the unfortunate death of the little charming young girl, so I choose to make my findings.
Anemia is a common health problem in children, but I believe if she had access to proper health care, she would have possibly survived. The most common cause of anemia in children is their inability to get sufficient iron, an anemic child does not have enough red blood cells or sufficient hemoglobin, in case you are wondering what exactly hemoglobin is, it is that protein that allows red blood cell carry oxygen to other cells in the body. Iron is strongly required for the formation of hemoglobin.
Iron is responsible for the movement of oxygen from the lungs to the other parts of the body, it also helps muscles store and adequately use oxygen. If a child lacks iron, the child may develop iron deficiency, which is a common problem in children, it can occur at different levels, from a mild deficiency level to an iron deficiency anemia and when it graduates to an iron deficiency anemia, it has become a condition where the blood isn't healthy enough, it is the lack of healthy red blood cells when iron deficiency is left untreated, it can affect the child's growth and development.
These are things that cause iron deficiency;
- Meals that are low in iron: Children get iron from the food in their diet, but it is only a little percentage of this iron that is absorbed into the body. Newborn babies that are full-term and are born to healthy parents, actually have an iron that they have obtained during the last three months phase of the pregnancy, but when a child is born to anemic parents, such child may not have sufficient iron stored in the body, and when infants are born pre-term, they may also not have sufficient iron in the body.
When a child gets to 4-6 months of age, the iron stored at that point is low and more iron is used as the infant advances in age, while there is a bit of viral advice that babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, we must also note that breast milk does not have sufficient iron, so when infants are given exclusive breast milk, they may not have sufficient iron.
Another reason for iron insufficiency in a child is when the body goes through a growth spurt, more iron is required for the production of red blood cells. Any condition that causes blood loss may result in a decrease in iron.
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When iron in a child's body is too little, it will affect the child's functional ability, in most cases however, signs and symptoms of iron deficiency do not happen until it has gotten to the point of anemia, so once you realize that your child stands a chance of being anemic, it is necessary to instantly speak with your doctor. The signs and symptoms of anemia are; Fatigue, frequent cases of infections, pale skin, cold hands, and cold feet, poor appetite, slowed development and growth, and unusual cravings for substances that add no nutrient to the body, some very weird examples are craving for paint, for ice and even dirt.
We have many types of anemia in children, we have the;
Iron deficiency anemia: This is when there is no sufficient iron in the blood, iron is required for the formation of hemoglobin and this is the most common cause of anemia.
Hemolytic anemia: This is when the red blood cells are destroyed, which is caused by either a serious infection or a certain type of medication.
Megaloblastic anemia: This form of anemia is when the red blood cells are too large from the lack of folic acid or vitamin B-12. In this case, there is a problem absorbing vitamin B-12, which is important to the making of red blood cells.
Aplastic anemia: This is a severe condition where the bone marrow is unable to produce enough red blood cells.
Sickle cell anemia: This is an inherited type of anemic case where the child has an abnormally shaped red-blood cell.
Cooley's anemia is also an inherited type of anemia with an abnormal red blood cell.
Anemia in children can be treated but this is dependent on; the type of anemia, how severe the anemic condition is, and the underlying condition that has contributed to the problem. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common anemia case in children and it is mostly treated with iron supplements and diet changes, where a doctor would prescribe medications based on the child's age and the level of iron deficiency. Sometimes, with supplements or without supplements, food like eggs, poultry, beans, red meat, seafood, dark green, and leafy vegetables are recommended.
In addition to giving your child iron-rich food, it is also important to add vitamin C-rich food to your diet, examples are; papaya, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, dark green, leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits. In some cases, the child may require blood transfusion alongside other forms of treatment.
How to Prevent Iron Deficiency in Children.
As a nursing mother, if your baby is taking iron-fortified formula, then there is a high chance that your baby is getting the required iron supplement required for growth, but in a case where you are going on exclusive breastfeeding, then you may have to speak with your doctor about the recommended available supplement which may be an iron drop given at a particular dose.
Generally speaking, these recommendations are advised;
Start giving your baby iron supplements from age 4 until the baby begins to eat two or more times daily (speaking of iron-rich food), if you have a premature baby, begin to provide the baby with supplements at two weeks until the baby gets to age 1, but if the majority of your baby's feeding is with a formula that is rich in iron, you should stop giving the baby supplements.
When your baby begins to consume solids, make sure the food is rich in iron, also make sure that your child is not consuming excessive milk, especially within 1-5 years of age, Vitamin C helps to promote the absorption of dietary iron, so serve meals rich in Vitamin C.
How is anemia diagnosed;
In most cases, anemia is diagnosed with a simple blood test. However, the AAP recommends anemia screening with hemoglobin blood tests for infants within 12 months, if the level of hemoglobin is low, more blood tests will be carried out and if the child has a risk factor of any age, more blood tests will be carried out.
Conclusion.
Iron deficiency in children can be prevented by keeping track of your child's growth and offering food and meals rich in iron or iron supplements. A regular and proper check-up is also highly recommended, as this will help the doctors figure out any occurring issue.
References.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/iron-deficiency/art-20045634
https://www.healthline.com/health/anemia/anemia-in-kids#outlook
https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/anemia
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P02311
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/health-library/iron-deficiency-anemia-in-children
Hi, I am Tobi a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. Want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my youtube channel where you can listen and watch any episode for free, please, do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, kindly do well to keep them coming.