What is Anaemia in children?

Anaemia is a common condition characterised by the inability of your body to produce or maintain sufficient or normal red blood cells. The prevalence of anaemia in India is around 52%. It has also been found that for every ten children aged 6-59 months, seven are anaemic. Further, out of this study group, 26% are mildly anaemic, 40% are moderately anaemic and 3% are severely anaemic. The most common type of anaemia affecting children is iron deficiency anaemia.

In this article, we discuss further how prevalent iron deficiency anaemia is in India and how to identify it in children.

What are the Symptoms of Anaemia in Children?

Often, the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia in children will be similar to that in adults. Despite the similarity, children may face trouble explaining how they are feeling. As an adult, you should be careful about noting whether your child is experiencing all of the symptoms listed below or some of them in combination:

• Pale skin
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness or dullness
• Getting tired soon
• Craving to eat clay, chalk, ice etc.
• Pain in legs
• May have difficulty concentrating on studies
•  Irritability

What Causes Anaemia in Children?

The cause of anaemia is directly related to the type. For children, most often the causes are either genetic conditions that affect how red blood cells function or food allergies and feeding struggles.

Anaemia in children can be due to

1. Inadequate intake of iron-rich food
2. Inadequate absorption of iron from the gut
3. Parasitic infestations 
4. Blood loss due to underlying illness
5. Autoimmune disorder
6. Others

Below are the different types of iron deficiency anaemia in children based on microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic patterns of red blood cells. 

Macrocytic Anaemia

• Hypersplenism
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Folate deficiency
• Hypothyroidism

Microcytic Anaemia

• Iron deficiency
• Thalassemia
• Infections

Normocytic Anaemia

• Autoimmune conditions that attack red blood cells
• Sickle cell disease
• Hemolytic disease
• Abnormality in the bone marrow

How Much Iron is Needed by Children?

Iron is an essential nutrient for growth and development in children. Iron is vital because it helps to carry oxygen from the lungs to the other parts of the body. It is responsible for helping the muscles store and utilise this oxygen whenever there is a need. Iron is also necessary for physical growth, neurological development, cellular functioning and the synthesis of some hormones. So, when your child’s daily diet lacks a good amount of iron-fortified or iron-rich food sources, they are at a high risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia.

Although children are born with iron stores in their bodies, they typically need a stable amount of additional iron throughout their growth and development stages. Below is a table illustrating the approximate iron needs of your child.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Anaemia in Children

Diagnosing anaemia in children can be a bit challenging due to the fact that symptoms are often very mild or it is shared with a few other conditions. As the first step, the doctor will evaluate the child’s overall health (including diet, medications and development) as well the medical history of the parents.

The doctor will advise the parents to get a complete blood count (CBC) test to assess the haemoglobin levels. This is the most standard blood test that gives an overall idea about the count of all blood cell types from the sample. In case of low haemoglobin levels, your doctor will advise further lab tests to diagnose the type of anaemia and treat it accordingly.

Anaemia in children is treated based on the below three factors:

• The type of anaemia
• How severely anaemic the child is
• Whether underlying conditions contribute to the problem

The doctor will try to treat your child with iron supplements or with a dietary recommendation. The doctor may suggest increasing the number of iron-rich foods or iron-fortified foods in the child’s diet. This includes foods like

• Seafood
• Red meat
• Eggs
• Poultry
• Beans and lentils
• Iron-fortified cereals
• Dark green, leafy vegetables
•  Sweet potatoes
• Citrus fruits
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Cabbage

Conclusion

Iron deficiency anaemia is a common form of anaemia in children and usually it can be corrected through iron supplements and a balanced healthy diet. In case of worm infestations or underlying conditions, the cause needs to be addressed. Typically, anaemia is a short-term condition in children, but in other cases, it may need ongoing medical treatment in order to maintain the blood count level. Strictly adhere to the treatment prescribed by your haematologist and maintain regular follow-up sessions. 

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

Sources:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/

https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/3201617.pdf

https://www.who.int/health-topics/anaemia#tab=tab_1