Anaemia is a common blood disorder that occurs when the body has fewer red blood cells than normal. These cells carry oxygen throughout the body using a protein called hemoglobin. If there are not enough of these cells or this protein, anaemia occurs and this places stress on the body.
It is often a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. In some cases, it may be temporary and caused by a nutritional deficiency or blood loss but in other cases, it is as a result of a chronic or hereditary condition, including genetic disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancers and other diseases.
While many types of anaemia can be mild and easily corrected, certain other types can be severe, chronic, and/or life-threatening.
Types of Anaemia include;
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Iron refractory non deficiency anemia
- Congenital sideroblastic anemia
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Hemolytic anemia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Thalassemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Fanconi anemia
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia
Rapid growth is a potential cause of this condition, therefore the first year of life and adolescence are two age groups that are prone to having anemia.
Your child may become anemic if his/her body:
1. Does not produce enough red blood cells: This occurs if there are not enough iron or other nutrients in their diet, for example, iron-deficiency anaemia.
2. Destroys too many red blood cells: This usually happens when there is an underlying disease or inherited a blood disorder e.g. sickle cell anemia.
3. Loses red blood cells through excessive bleeding: It can either be an obvious blood loss, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, or long-term low-grade blood loss, perhaps in the stool.
Causes
Its cause is largely dependent on the type of anemia.
The most common causes include:
- Nutritional deficiencies like iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12
- Inherited diseases e.g. Fanconi anemia, Thalassemia, Sickle cell anemia
- Autoimmune disease
- Excessive bleeding
- Certain cancerous conditions
- Certain drugs
- Infections
Symptoms
Each child may experience different symptoms.
Some of these symptoms are specific to certain causes but most of them are non-specific.
It can also be a symptom associated with other diseases; therefore, it is important to have your child evaluated by his/her pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.
The most frequently anemic symptoms include:
- Pale skin, lips, hands, or under the eyelids
- Increased heart rate
- Breathlessness, or dyspnea
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Irritability
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Amenorrhea
- Sore or swollen tongue
- Jaundice
- Enlarged spleen or liver
- Slow or delayed growth and development
- Impaired wound and tissue healing
Treatment
Depending on its specific cause, your child’s pediatrician may recommend different treatment options.
These variant treatments include:
- Vitamin or mineral supplements
- Diet change
- Drugs and/or discontinuing causative drugs
- Treatment of the underlying condition
- Removal of the spleen through surgery, if related to certain hemolytic anemias
- Blood transfusions, if required to replace significant loss
- Antibiotics, as appropriate if caused by an infection
- Stem cell transplant
Apart from vitamins, foods rich in iron can be added to your child’s diet to treat iron-deficiency anaemia. Examples may include apricots, chicken, turkey, fish, meats, dried beans, lentils, soybeans, eggs, liver, oatmeal, peanut butter, pure juices, spinach, kale and green vegetables.
The long-term Outlook
The long-term outlook for children having anemia depends on its specific cause.
Some forms of anemia, such as a nutritional deficiency can be treated quickly and don’t require significant long-term follow-up.
In other cases, where it is caused by a genetic disorder, your child may need regular follow-up by hematologists.
Your child’s pediatrician can discuss a specific care plan for your child with you.
Dr. Favvy
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The information on this blog site is for educational purposes only.
It should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advise of your pediatrician.
Always consult your pharmacist before giving your child any drug.
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