adminIron deficiency or anemia is one of the problems among women in this country and in this state. But it is also quite common in children. That means, in this state blood deficiency in the body of children is also seen severely. Which many people don’t know. Therefore, even if there is a problem, the parents do not sing much.
At what age is the child most at risk?
Anemia in children can vary depending on age. The number of cases of anemia in neonates (within one month of birth) or infancy i.e. between birth and one year of age is quite high. Anemia may then develop within one to five years. Anemia also occurs between five and twelve years of age. – The type of anemia depends on this age. Also, premature babies are also prone to anemia.
Causes vary with age
- About 30 percent of children in the state suffer from anemia. Malnutrition is one of the reasons behind anemia in most children. Another problem is worm infestation. The second factor, however, is now largely under control. Anemia that usually occurs between 1-3 years of age may be primarily due to malnutrition or thalassemia. Parents should be aware of this. Because, on the one hand, when the baby is entering the normal diet from the mother’s breastfeeding, and on the other hand, the fetal hemoglobin is turning into the normal adult hemoglobin during pregnancy. This transition period is very important.
- Also behind the baby is congenital anemia, anemia from an infection.
- If the mother is Rh negative i.e. the Rh factor is absent in the red blood cells, if the child of that woman is Rh positive, usually the child is affected by hemolytic disease and fetus and newborn. In this case, the red blood cells in the newborn body are destroyed before they are formed. As a result, anemia is evident. This anemia starts from pregnancy. So many times the fetus is also lost because of this. And if the child is born with this problem, neonatal jaundice appears. This jaundice is severe.
- Another cause of childhood anemia is thalassemia. In this, the level of adult hemoglobin in one’s body is very low. Problems arise when fetal hemoglobin levels drop from the newborn’s body and adult hemoglobin levels rise. The hemoglobin when the baby is born is called fetal hemoglobin. After birth, it gradually becomes adult hemoglobin.
- In addition, if the pregnant baby is born prematurely (baby born between 28-30 weeks of gestation), i.e. if the baby is premature, the prevalence of anemia of prematurity falls. Their body does not produce adequate amounts of hemoglobin in the blood.
- May also have sickle cell anemia. In this case RBC (a special type of hemoglobin) which is one of the components of adult hemoglobin, this blood component is not present in sickle cell disease.
It is important for mothers to prevent neonatal anemia
So one thing everyone needs to know, when a mother is or has a child in her womb, it is very important to do the mother’s blood group and antibody screening test. If there is any abnormality in the mother’s blood, then it is possible to be aware.
Apart from this, for congenital infection, it is also necessary to do the diagnostic test ‘TORCH’ (TORCH) as per the doctor’s advice, whether rubella, cytomegalovirus is present in the mother’s body or not.
Children of parents with thalassemia carriers have about a 25 percent chance of developing thalassemia. Anemia also manifests due to this.
treatment
Blood transfusion is not required for anemia in children. But proper treatment is very important. If you have anemia due to lack of nutrients, then you need to eat iron-rich foods. For example, jaggery, dates, vegetables, meat paste, fish should be fed to the child instead of sugar.
Anemia due to other causes (congenital or infectious) requires appropriate treatment of the cause first. This type of anemia cannot be prevented by diet alone. Sometimes blood transfusion is required, sometimes treatment with phototherapy is required. So it is important to see a doctor if you have symptoms. Otherwise many things can happen due to lack of blood in the baby’s body.
Infantile anemia is more of a concern
This anemia causes the child to have reluctance to eat and drink, becoming irritable at very little things. Child growth is stunted. The child’s nails begin to break, hands and feet become white. It is important to be careful if you see them from the age of 8-9 months.
If Hemoglobin is usually detected during a routine examination of a child is 8-10, it is really worrisome. The normal hemoglobin level of a child there should be 12-14. It is very important to be careful if the hemoglobin level is below 11 in a 2-3 year old child. If there are these symptoms, it is necessary to follow up if the baby’s stool is getting better or not. Along with that, serum, iron study should also be done to see if the level of iron in the body is correct or not.
If sickle cell anemia is not treated properly, it can lead to chest infection, head stroke, brain damage.
