There are several tell-tale signs that may indicate your child has anaemia.
Anaemia is a common health issue for children, but it often comes with visible and easy-to-spot symptoms that can make it quicker to diagnose.
If they’re a little more tired or irritable than usual, it may suggest their iron levels are running low.
Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) indicates that person does not have enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, according to Mayo Clinic.
The most common cause of anaemia is a lack of iron. However, there are other reasons why a child can develop the blood disorder.
Causes
Low Iron
Nationwide Children’s Hospital outlines a number of causes that may contribute to IDA.
Inqdeaute intake of iron is one of the top causes of the disease.
Children get iron from food in their diet. However, only a small amount of the iron gets absorbed by the body.
Infants born to parents with IDA or other health conditions may not have stored sufficient amounts of iron.
Premature babies may also not be able to get enough iron, which may lead to the development of IDA.
Babies get their iron from their parents in the final three months of pregnancy and by four to six months of age, this reserve starts to run low as the iron is used as the infant grows.
Body changes
As previously mentioned, when an infant grows or is going through a growth spurt, more iron is required to make more red blood cells, which may leave iron levels low.
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract problems
If your child has undergone any form of GI surgery, they may experience poor iron absorption.
When they consume foods with iron, it may result in much of the iron being absorbed in the upper small intestine; altering iron absorption and resulting in potential IDA.
Blood loss
A loss of blood can deplete iron levels.
GI bleeding, injury, or menstrual bleeding are all sources of blood loss that may contribute to IDA.
Symptoms
There are a number of symptoms that can make it easier to identify IDA, these include:
- Pale skin
- Being grouchy (irritable) or fussy
- Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue)
- Sore or swollen tongue
Meanwhile, other less visible symptoms that can indicate IDA include:
- Enlarged spleen
- Fast heartbeat
- Wanting to eat odd substances, such as dirt or ice (also called pica)
In the majority of cases, anaeamia can be diagnosed with simple blood tests.
However, there may be no symptoms present in some cases for children. Routine anaemia screening tests can detect IDA without symptoms.
Treatment
IDA treatment depends on a child’s age, symptoms general health, and the severity of their IDA.
To treat the condition, iron supplements – such as pills or drops – may be given over the course of several months to help increase iron levels in the blood.
Iron supplements are the most effective way to remedy an iron deficiency.
However, it is always recommended to seek the best course of treatment from your GP as certain supplements may irritate the stomach and discolour bowel movements.
Providing an iron-rich diet can also help with the condition and may be an easier alternative to pills for your child to adjust to.
Foods that contain good sources of iron include:
- Iron-enriched cereals, breads, pasta, and rice
- Meats, such as beef, pork, lamb, liver, and other organ meats
- Poultry, such as chicken, duck, turkey, (especially dark meat), and liver
- Fish, such as shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters, sardines, and anchovies
- Leafy greens of the cabbage family, such as broccoli, kale, turnip greens, and collards
- Legumes, such as lima beans and green peas; dry beans and peas, such as pinto beans, black-eyed peas, and canned baked beans
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