Iron deficiency anemia - children

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Red blood cells, target cells

Formed elements of blood

Iron deficiency anemia - children

Alternative Names:

Anemia - iron deficiency - children
Treatment:

Oral iron supplements are in the form of ferrous sulfate. Iron supplements are best absorbed on an empty stomach, but many people are unable to tolerate them and may need to take them with food. Milk and antacids may interfere with absorption of iron and should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements. Vitamin C can increase absorption and is essential in the production of hemoglobin.

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Supplemental iron is needed during pregnancy and lactation because normal dietary intake rarely supplies the required amount.

The hematocrit should return to normal after 2 months of iron therapy, but iron supplements should be continued for another 6 to 12 months. This will replenish the body's iron stores, contained mostly in the bone marrow.

Intravenous or intra-muscular iron is available for patients who can not tolerate oral iron supplements.

Iron-rich foods include raisins, meats (liver is the highest source), fish, poultry, egg yolks, legumes (peas and beans), and whole grain bread.

Iron supplementation significantly improves learning, memory, and cognitive test performance in iron-deficient adolescents. Iron supplementation also measurably improves the performance of iron-deficient, anemic athletes.

Expectations (prognosis):

With treatment, the outcome is likely to be good. In most cases the blood counts will return to normal in 2 months.

Complications:

Iron deficiency (even when not enough to cause anemia) is an important cause of decreased attention span, alertness, and learning -- both in young children and in adolescents. Iron deficiency anemia measurably worsens school performance.