Iron deficiency anemia in children

A decrease in hemoglobin is quite common in young children. Almost every second child with anemia suffers from iron deficiency.

What it is?

A pathological condition in which the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin decreases is called anemia. If the cause of the anemic condition was a decrease in iron intake, then such anemia is called iron deficiency.

The content of this trace element in a child's body in the first days after birth is 400 mg. If the baby is born prematurely, then the amount of iron is reduced by about four times.

Regular replenishment of this substance occurs during breastfeeding. Mother's milk contains all the necessary nutritional components, as well as micro and macro elements. With full-fledged feeding and timely introduction of complementary foods, the amount of iron in the body is quite enough for the implementation of all vital functions.

Ferrum is part of hemoglobin. An adequate supply of iron in the red blood cells leads to a transport function. Hemoglobin allows oxygen to be transported to every cell in the body. To compensate for iron for infants, 1-2 grams are enough.

The absorption of the trace element occurs in the small intestine. After that, most of the iron remains in the erythrocytes. There is about 80% of the entire farm. About 20% of iron remains in macrophages and liver cells. Such a stock is called a reserve, it is needed only in emergency situations. They usually occur with severe trauma and damage, accompanied by severe blood loss.

Causes

Iron deficiency can be caused by:

Insufficient intake with food. Plant-based vegetarian diets lacking animal proteins often lead to the development of anemic conditions. Meat products and poultry contain heme iron. It is more easily absorbed and well absorbed by the child's body.
Chronic diseases of the digestive system. Pathologies of the stomach and intestines contribute to the violation of iron absorption.
Multiple pregnancy. Twins or twins are at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency. If the expectant mother, who carries several babies at once during pregnancy, consumes an insufficient amount of iron-rich foods, then the babies often develop anemic condition after birth.
Prematurity. It leads to underdevelopment of the hematopoietic organs, which cannot carry out their functions for the formation of erythrocytes in an amount sufficient for the body.
Pathologies that have arisen during pregnancy. Fetal hypoxia, placental insufficiency and abnormalities in the structure of the placenta can lead to the development of an anemic state in the unborn child.

Mom's inadequate nutrition during pregnancy. If the expectant mother eats few foods that contain a sufficient amount of iron, then she may develop an iron deficiency state. This leads to the development of anemia in the child.
Untimely introduction of complementary foods. The absence of puree made from beef or poultry in the children's diet can contribute to the development of anemic condition.
Pronounced growth during puberty. As a result of hormonal imbalances, adolescents often experience anemic syndrome. This disorder is transient in nature and disappears after the end of puberty.
Excessive menstruation in adolescent girls. Prolonged and too abundant discharge on critical days leads to severe blood loss.
Intestinal functional disorders. Persistent irritable bowel syndrome and dysbiosis contribute to impaired absorption of iron from incoming food.

Classification

All iron deficiency states are divided by severity into:

Lungs. Diagnosed with a hemoglobin level of 90 to 110 g / liter. They are characterized by the appearance of minor clinical symptoms or may remain unidentified for a long time.
Medium weight. The hemoglobin level is between 70 and 90 g / liter.
Heavy. They arise when hemoglobin drops below 70 g / liter. They require immediate treatment.
Extremely heavy. They occur when hemoglobin drops below 50 g / liter. Blood or red blood cell transfusion may be required for treatment.

For premature babies, a classification of iron deficiency states is used according to the timing of the onset of anemic manifestations.

All iron deficiencies can be:

Early. They occur in babies immediately after birth. Refusal of breastfeeding or the use of improperly selected adapted mixtures, underdevelopment of the hematopoietic organs lead to the appearance of anemic symptoms.
Late. They are found in babies 3-4 months after birth. Associated with depletion of the reserve reserve of iron and excessive destruction of hemoglobin.

Symptoms

In many cases, it is difficult to identify the signs of iron deficiency anemia. If the iron deficiency is not very pronounced, then the symptoms of the disease are not very pronounced. Only in weakened babies or with prolonged development of an anemic state can iron deficiency anemia be suspected.

Symptoms of anemia include:

Pale skin. Against the background of pale skin, the lips acquire a blue tint. The skin becomes thinner, veins are clearly visible.
Fatigue and severe weakness. The symptom manifests itself well in schoolchildren and adolescents. Children do worse at school, remember learning material poorly, and cannot concentrate well on the subject.
Increased dryness of the skin. The use of special moisturizers does not improve the condition. The skin becomes very dry and easily injured.
The appearance of small wrinkles around the lips.
Decrease in blood pressure against a background of increased heart rate.
Behavior change. Kids become more moody, get tired quickly. Babies may refuse to breastfeed.
Stool disorders. Constipation is most common. Diarrhea is much less common, usually with the development of intestinal dysbiosis.
Frequent dental caries. In some cases, bleeding gums.
Increased nail brittleness and excessive hair loss.
Violation of taste preferences. An addiction to excessively spicy food may indicate a decrease in iron in the body.
Lagging in physical development. Insufficient weight gain or deviations from normal growth rates may indicate the presence of anemic syndrome.
Exposure to frequent colds and infectious diseases. Prolonged oxygen starvation leads to a decrease in immunity.

Diagnostics

It is possible to establish iron deficiency in the early stages. A routine blood test can detect a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemias are also accompanied by a reduced color index. These conditions are called hypochromic.

In the prelate period of the disease, when there are still no changes in the general blood test, iron deficiency can be detected only in the tissues. At the next stages of the disease, there is already a decrease in the concentration of iron in the blood serum. At the final stage of the disease, a low level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes is recorded.

In some cases, additional consultations are required with a gastroenterologist, hematologist, nephrologist. A teenage girl should definitely be shown to a gynecologist. Establishing iron loss requires an initial diagnosis that led to the development of the anemic condition.

Doctors sometimes prescribe ultrasound examinations of the liver and spleen to identify diseases and anatomical defects. Such an examination allows you to identify various organ pathologies at the earliest stages.

Complications

Prolonged oxygen starvation, which occurs with iron deficiency in the body, leads to the development of adverse consequences. Such conditions are most dangerous for the brain and heart.

With a prolonged course of the disease, myocarditis may develop. This condition is dangerous by the development of heart rhythm disturbances, as well as a strong decrease in blood pressure. Arrhythmias and severe tachycardia cause severe discomfort to babies.

Treatment

According to the clinical guidelines that regulate the algorithm for the treatment of iron deficiency anemias, therapy for the disease should be carried out at the first detection of a decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocytes.

For the treatment of an anemic condition caused by iron deficiency, the following are used:

Health food. This children's menu includes a large number of foods high in iron. The daily inclusion of meat, poultry and offal in the diet will help normalize hemoglobin levels. This diet should be followed for a long time.
Appointment of iron preparations. Such medicines are prescribed for a course appointment. Normalization of hemoglobin and erythrocytes occurs only after a few months. Most often, babies are prescribed tablets and syrups. In the presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines, iron-containing preparations are prescribed in the form of injections.
Normalization of the daily routine. Adequate sleep, active walks in the fresh air, as well as reducing stress at school help to quickly restore hemoglobin to normal values.
In critical conditions - blood or erythrocyte transfusion.
Surgery. It is carried out in cases where pathological destruction of erythrocytes occurs. Removal of the spleen or bone marrow transplantation helps restore hemoglobin levels and makes you feel better.

Prevention

To restore the normal level of iron in the body, it is necessary to monitor the sufficient intake of foods rich in this trace element. Timely treatment and prevention of exacerbations of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract help prevent the development of iron deficiency in the future.

All babies who are prematurely born or are low birthweight should be getting enough iron. To do this, mommy should breastfeed as long as possible. If for some reason lactation stops, it will be necessary to choose the correct adapted mixtures with a high content of iron and vitamins.