Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Iron deficiency anemia - children

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Anemia - iron deficiency - children


Symptoms
  • Blue-tinged or very pale whites of eyes
  • Blood in the stools
  • Brittle nails
  • Decreased appetite (especially in children)
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Pale skin color (pallor)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore tongue
  • Unusual food cravings (called pica)
  • Weakness

Note: There may be no symptoms if anemia is mild.


Signs and tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. A blood sample is taken and sent to a laboratory for examination. Iron-deficient red blood cells appear small and pale when looked at under a microscope.

Specific tests that may be done include:

  • Hematocrit
  • Serum ferritin reveals the amount of iron stored in your body
  • Serum iron shows how much iron is in your blood
  • Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) to measure the ability of a protein called transferrin to carry iron in the blood

A measurement called iron saturation often can give a good assessment of whether you have enough iron in your body.


Review Date: 03/16/2010
Reviewed By: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)