How to Prevent Iron Deficiency in Children

Iron is an important nutrient for the proper development of children. The main function of iron is to carry oxygen to the different parts of the body from the lungs. By doing this, iron helps the muscles to use and store oxygen within them. Iron deficiency can be quite a dangerous situation. It can impede your child's growth and development. Anaemia and depleted iron stores are two of the worst stages of this condition. In anaemia, the blood does not produce healthy red cells. Red cells are important for carrying oxygen. If the red cells are not healthy, the child will suffer from pale skin and lack of energy. Therefore, it is important for every parent to know how to prevent iron deficiency in children.

If you want to take a u-turn from the traditional medicines and try something more natural then here are some tips for that.

Breast Feeding: It is recommended to breast-feed your child until he is 1 or 2. Breast milk has iron that is easily absorbed by children. In case, breast feeding is not an option then you can opt for iron-fortified infant formula. Please do not use cow milk for children under the age of 3. Cow milk is not a proper source of iron for toddlers.

Opt For Iron Supplements: Although iron supplements are not recommended for children under the age of 1, for premature babies it is recommended. If you had a premature baby and he isn't eating iron rich diets after 6 months along with breast-feed then it's important to start iron supplements. However, make sure you consult it with your doctor before starting the supplements.

Make Absorption Easier: It is important to give your child foods that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in promoting the absorption of dietary iron which is a must for children. Please remember that citrus juices are not recommended for children under the age of 1 but you can always opt for other stuff such as strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, etc.

Offer Balanced Meals: In this case, a balanced meal means one that is rich in iron and other nutrients. For children between the ages of 4 months and 5 months, it is important to have added iron in the meals. Iron-fortified cereals, egg yolks, meat and beans are some of the best sources of iron. Try not to give your child food that is high in calories.

Anemia: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a medical condition, which causes a decrease in the amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. Anemia does not let your body produce enough blood cells and dismantles too many blood cells in your body.  It lowers the ability of the blood to carry oxygen, which often results in weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath. There are more than 400 types of anemia. Preschool children are at great risk of developing this disorder. 

Causes of Anemia

Anemia due to decline in the production of red blood cells

• The low level of iron and vitamin c is the main reason behind this type of anemia. Lack of iron and vitamin C also has a direct impact on bone marrow. 
• Bone marrow, located in the center of our bone, is responsible for the production of red blood cells.
• Dysfunctioning of bone marrow makes other blood related diseases inevitable.  

Anemia due to excessive destruction of red blood cells

• Red blood cells generally have a time span of 120 days in our body, but anemia destroys the red blood cells in advance, causing the shortage of red blood cells in the body.
• This is due to the fact, that sometimes-immune system of our body by mistake destroys the red blood cells of our body, because the immune system is not able to discern between foreign substances and red blood cells.

Anemia due to blood loss

• This is the most common type of anemia and caused to shortage of iron and excessive blood loss from the body. Rapid blood loss may be due to childbirth, trauma, surgery, disruption in the blood vessel.
• Because of excessive blood loss, your body tracts the water from tissues outside your bloodstream, in order to keep your blood vessels filled. The addition of water in the blood causes makes the red blood cells diluted. 
• Blood loss due to anemia can also result in cancer, tumor or stomach ulcers.

Symptoms of Anemia

Some common symptoms of anemia are:

• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heart beat
• Lack of Energy

In some types of anemia, there may be no or very little visible symptoms. Here are some symptoms of anemia according to their type.

• Hemolytic anemia Symptoms
  
• Fever
• Jaundice
• Abdominal Pain
• Dark colored urine
  
• Aplastic anemia Symptoms
  
• Skin rashes
• Fever
• Re-occurring Infections
  
• Sickle Cell anemia Symptoms
  
• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Inflammation in hands and feet
  
• Folic acid anemia Symptoms
  
• Diarrhea
• Irritation
• Diagnosis of Anemia
  
• There are various methods are used in diagnosing anemia, but the most common method is Complete blood count (CBC). Complete blood count test (CBC) measures the level of hemoglobin in the blood, volume of red blood cells and volume of the total blood in the blood.
• If Complete blood count test (CBC), results in low levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells, this is an indication of development of anemia
• Complete blood count test (CBC) can also indicate the occurrence of other diseases in the body such as kidney diseases or leukemia.
  
• Treatment for Anemia
  
• All the treatments of anemia, are focused on increasing the amount of red blood cells in the body, so that; oxygen can be transported throughout the body without any hindrance. 
• Treatment of anemia involves medicines, dietary changes and medical procedures.
• Diet full of iron and Vitamin-C can help in treating anemia. You can add following food in your diet
  
• Fish
• Eggs
• Green leafy vegetables
• Pulses
• Brown Rice
• Nuts
  
• Procedure for severe anemia
  
• Bone marrow transplant
• Blood Transfusion