What is anemia for kids

A child who is not getting enough iron can have learning or behavioral problems, since iron is important for energy, muscle function, and brain development.

Anemia is a decrease in the amount of red blood cells, below the normal range for a certain age. When the body does not get enough iron, it cannot make hemoglobin. Without enough hemoglobin, there are fewer red blood cells, so less oxygen reaches the cells and tissues that make up our bodies.

In developed countries, such as the United States, healthy babies typically get enough iron in their diet through breast milk or formula that is fortified with iron. When they begin to eat other complementary foods, they may not get enough iron, depending on the foods they are eating. Older kids who are picky eaters may not get enough iron as well, especially those who are on a vegetarian diet. Iron deficiency anemia is more common in teenage girls than teenage boys because their bodies are not able to store as much iron, in addition to the loss of blood during menstruation.

Over time, a child who is iron deficient will have symptoms of anemia if the deficiency is not corrected. If a child is not getting enough iron, the amount of iron in the body will decrease, first affecting muscle and brain function since the body is using all of the available iron to make hemoglobin. When the level of iron continues to go down, the body will then make fewer red blood cells ultimately leading to anemia. In rare cases when iron deficiency is very bad, a child may develop pica, which is a craving to eat items that are not food, such as dirt, paint chips, chalk, and ice.

Feed older children a well-balanced diet with foods that contain iron. Many grains and cereals have added iron check labels to be sure. Other good sources of iron include red meat, egg yolks, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, molasses, and raisins. See Pump Up the Diet with Iron. Encourage the whole family to eat citrus fruits or eat other foods high in Vitamin C to increase the body's absorption of iron.

Although green vegetables contain lots of iron, the iron from many vegetables comes in a form that is difficult for your body to absorb, but Vitamin C can help! Your pediatrician will likely refer you to a pediatric hematologist to provide you with supportive care and education on your child's specific condition.

If your child starts to show any signs or symptoms of anemia, be sure to tell your pediatrician. Also, find out if anyone in your family has a history of anemia or problems with easy bleeding. With proper treatment, your child's anemia should improve quickly. Pump Up the Diet with Iron. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server.

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Show references Powers JM, et al. Accessed Oct. National Institutes of Health. What is iron-deficiency anemia? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Kaushansky K, et al. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Anemia? There are many different kinds of anemia, so treatments vary.

What Are the Different Kinds of Anemia? The types of anemia are based on what causes them. They include: Anemias from when red blood cells get broken down too fast , called hemolytic anemias. They include: autoimmune hemolytic anemia: when the body's immune system destroys its own red blood cells inherited hemolytic anemias: these include sickle cell disease , thalassemia, G6PD deficiency , and hereditary spherocytosis Anemia from bleeding.