What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia in children?

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 08, 2024
00:00
00:00

Iron deficiency anemia can manifest as: 1. Gradual pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, especially noticeable on the lips, oral mucosa, and nail beds. Older children may experience dizziness, darkening before the eyes, and tinnitus. Additionally, anemia can lead to extramedullary hematopoiesis, and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes can occur. The younger the age and the longer the duration of the disease, the more severe the anemia and the more prominent the enlargement of the liver and spleen. 2. In terms of gastrointestinal tract: reduced appetite, pica, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomatitis may occur. 3. Nervous system manifestations include: restlessness or lethargy, lack of concentration, reduced memory, and intelligence often lower than peers of the same age. 4. Cardiovascular system: an increased heart rate may be observed, and in severe cases, cardiac enlargement and even heart failure can occur. 5. Immune system: Iron deficiency can affect hematopoietic function, often leading to reduced cell-mediated immune function and combined infections.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
38sec home-news-image

Iron deficiency anemia should see which department?

Anemia is a condition characterized by a reduction in the total volume of red blood cells in the circulating blood to below normal levels. Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by a lack of raw materials for blood production. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body's stored iron is depleted and cannot meet the needs for normal red blood cell production. Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of red blood cell disease and falls within the category of hematology. Therefore, patients with iron deficiency anemia should seek treatment in the department of hematology.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
1min 14sec home-news-image

What is good to eat for iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is a commonly seen type of nutritional anemia in clinical settings, with many causes. It can be caused by an insufficient intake of dietary iron needed to meet the body's demands. This insufficiency can also arise when the body's requirement for iron increases, or due to certain diseases, such as atrophic gastritis, lack of stomach acid, or the excessive use of antacids, which affect iron absorption. Increased bodily consumption due to conditions like diarrhea or hookworm infection can also lead to iron deficiency. For patients with iron deficiency anemia, it is generally recommended to improve the utilization of dietary iron. The first step is to modify dietary habits and lifestyle. For instance, it is suggested that vegetarians change their dietary patterns to include more iron-rich foods, such as animal liver, beef kidney, and chicken gizzards. Iron-rich vegetarian options include soy, black fungus, sesame paste, brown sugar, and dried fruits. Therefore, it is advisable for patients with iron deficiency anemia to increase their intake of these types of foods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
1min 20sec home-news-image

What is the fastest way to treat iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by a lack of storage iron in the body, affecting the synthesis of hemoglobin. It is characterized by a lack of available iron in tissues and organs such as bone marrow, liver, and spleen, with decreased serum iron concentration, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin levels. Typically, iron deficiency anemia presents as microcytic hypochromic anemia. Iron, as one of the essential trace elements in the human body, is contained in all functioning cells and is broadly involved in metabolic processes within the body. Therefore, the treatment principle for iron deficiency anemia involves replenishing sufficient iron until normal iron stores are restored and addressing the underlying causes that led to the iron deficiency to effectively and quickly replenish iron. Oral iron supplements are the preferred treatment option for iron deficiency anemia, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous succinate, and iron dextran which are effective oral iron agents.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
56sec home-news-image

Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The treatment principles for iron deficiency anemia mainly involve two aspects. One is to identify the cause of the iron deficiency anemia. Once the cause is confirmed, fundamental treatment of the cause should be conducted to restore the body's normal iron stores. The second aspect is iron supplementation, which is recommended to be administered orally. The daily supplemental iron dose is approximately 150 to 200 milligrams, typically using ferrous preparations such as ferrous succinate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, and iron dextran. It is suggested that iron supplements be taken with meals or after meals to reduce gastrointestinal irritation caused by the medication. Additionally, it is advised to avoid consuming tea, coffee, and other substances that could interfere with iron absorption during the treatment period.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Iron deficiency anemia lacks what element?

Iron deficiency anemia refers to a type of anemia caused by a lack of stored iron in the body, which affects the synthesis of hemoglobin. Its characteristics include a lack of stainable iron in organs such as the bone marrow, liver, and spleen, leading to decreased serum iron concentration, decreased transferrin saturation, and decreased serum ferritin. Typical iron deficiency anemia presents as microcytic hypochromic anemia. Therefore, iron deficiency anemia involves a deficiency in iron, a trace element essential for the human body, which is widely present in cells and participates in the body's metabolic processes. The human body has a strict iron metabolism regulatory mechanism to maintain normal physiological levels. Once this homeostasis is disrupted, it can lead to the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia. Factors that affect the distribution, absorption, transport, and storage of iron can all cause iron deficiency anemia.