Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is an anemia characterized clinically by small cell hypochromic anemia, decreased serum ferritin and effective iron therapy due to decreased hemoglobin synthesis caused by iron deficiency in the body.
How much iron does a baby need per day?
Pediatric babies require more iron per day than adults due to their growth and developmental needs. Full-term babies need about 1mg/kg of iron per day from four months after birth to three years of age. premature babies need more, up to about 2mg/kg.
Why is the incidence of iron deficiency anemia so high?
The main causes of iron deficiency anemia are:
1. Insufficient iron stores. The fetus gets the most iron from the mother in the second trimester, so prematurity, multiple births, and maternal anemia can reduce the fetal iron stores.
2. Insufficient intake of iron. This is the main reason. Breast milk, cereals and other iron content are low, supplemental food is not added in time is prone to iron deficiency.
3, baby growth and development during infancy, iron needs more.
4, iron absorption is not good. Here is mainly a food matching problem. In addition, chronic diarrhea is easy to make iron absorption is not good.
5, too much iron loss.
What are the manifestations of iron deficiency anemia?
1.Yellow face, pale lips and nail bed.
2. Babies are more easily fatigued and reluctant to move around. Older children sometimes report dizziness and blackness in front of their eyes.
3, appetite is reduced, some babies will eat some strange things, like mud, wall skin, cinder, etc.. Sometimes there is tongue inflammation and stomatitis.
4. Babies sometimes have irritability or mental discomfort. Mental inattention, memory loss, intelligence mostly lower than the same age children. It is important to note that the intelligence damage caused by iron deficiency is permanent and cannot be reversed with more iron supplementation later!
5. The heart rate of anemic babies is fast. Immunity is low and prone to infections.
6. The liver and spleen may appear enlarged.
What tests are needed for iron deficiency anemia?
1.Blood routine: the decrease of hemoglobin is more obvious than the decrease of red blood cells. Usually red blood cells do not even appear to be lowered, only hemoglobin. In addition, there are several other items, like MCV, MCH, MCHC will be reduced to different degrees.
2. Serum iron: decreased ferritin.
The diagnosis is basically confirmed with these tests. If the anemia is indeed severe, a bone marrow test may also be needed to rule out other blood disorders.
How to take dietary supplements for iron deficiency anemia?
1. Breastfeeding. Although there is not much iron in breast milk, the utilization rate is high.
2, whether breastfeeding or artificial feeding, you need to add iron-rich food in time. Such as refined meat, animal offal, animal blood, etc.
3.For small infants, iron-fortified rice powder is also a good choice.
How to supplement iron treatment?
Generally oral intake is sufficient. There are many kinds of drugs, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous succinate, iron dextran, etc. Most of them are taken orally between meals. We also recommend iron succinate oral solution, which has mild gastrointestinal adverse effects and is more suitable for children. Also oral vitamin C can increase the absorption of iron. Milk, calcium, tea, coffee, etc. taken together with iron will reduce the absorption of iron.
How long do I have to take iron before I can stop?
Hemoglobin usually reaches normal 3-4 weeks after taking the medication. At this point, it is necessary to continue taking iron orally for another 6-8 weeks to increase iron stores. Otherwise, anemia may occur again if the medication is stopped too soon.