What is anemia?
Anemia is defined as a lower than normal amount of hemoglobin per unit volume of blood and a decrease in the number of red blood cells. Many causes can cause anemia, so depending on the cause, anemia is classified as iron deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia, blood loss anemia, hemolytic anemia, etc. Therefore, anemia is not an independent disease, but a syndrome caused by multiple causes, which means that anemia is a manifestation of many diseases.
So, how to diagnose anemia? The simplest is to do a routine blood test, and anemia can be diagnosed if the hemoglobin is below the following standards.
1. Within 10 days of birth: Hgb<145g/L
2. 1 – 3 months: Hgb<90 g/L
3. Greater than 4 months: Hgb<100 g/L
4. 6 months – 6 years: Hgb<110 g/L
5. 6 – 14 years: Hgb<120 g/L
On our labs, all reference values are adult standard reference values, so parents may seem to have many indicators that are not within the reference values. Please do not be too nervous about this situation, it is best to seek comprehensive guidance from your doctor. Sometimes, when routine blood results show a pediatric hemoglobin (HGB) within the reference range, it is assumed that the child is not anemic, which is not entirely correct.
If the value of ferritin (SF) is lower than the reference value, it can be said that the child has a tendency to be anemic; how to explain this situation?
Three progressive processes of iron deficiency anemia.
1. a period of iron reduction.
2. a period of iron deficiency in red blood cell production.
3. a period of iron deficiency anemia.
Iron in the human body has a storage capacity, which means that when there is a deficiency of iron in the human body, the person will not show symptoms of anemia immediately and the hemoglobin will not decrease quickly, and the iron in the human body will have a compensatory process.
Therefore, the phenomenon of normal hemoglobin and abnormal ferritin can occur, which is mentioned above.
1, (iron reduction period).
2, (iron deficiency phase of erythropoiesis) stage. When the iron stored in the body is continuously depleted and not effectively replenished, a decrease in hemoglobin occurs, which is also referred to as.
3, (iron deficiency anemia phase) now.
The main manifestations of anemia are.
Pale skin and mucous membranes, poor physical development, short stature, non-playfulness and easy fatigue; poorly developed, brittle and transverse nails, dry, yellowish and lusterless hair; mental depression, drowsiness, irritability, poor concentration, poor reaction to the surrounding environment and reduced intelligence; older children may also complain of headache, dizziness, tinnitus and black spots in front of the eyes; often have loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; decreased immunity; enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes (except for “aplastic anemia”); enlargement of the heart in long-term anemia and heart failure in severe cases.