• Depends on many factors
  • Age of child
  • Severity of anaemia
  • Other associated conditions- ex. Heart problems

• Fast heart rate(to compensate low haemoglobin)

• Fatigue/ Weakness( because heart is beating fast)

• Pale( because of low red cells)

• Yellowish skin( if red cells are breaking, jaundice is formed)

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness or Chest pain

• Desire to eat non-food items, such as ice, paper or clay (pica)

 

• Adequate Production from bone( if low production, then anaemia)

• Normal life expectancy of red cells( If cells are destroyed early then anaemia)

• If bleeding, then red cells are lost

• Red blood cells need Vitamins and minerals for surviving, like Iron, vitamin B. If there is no supply of these vitamins, then anaemia

 

Iron deficiency anaemia.

• This is most common type

• Due to reduced intake of iron in food, or problem absorbing the iron from food.

• In pregnancy, more blood is required ( as the baby is growing), hence iron tablets are given in pregnancy.

• Vitamin and folic acid are required for formation of red cells. Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables and B12 is found in egg, milk, meat.

• The vitamins are absorbed in body with help of a factor (protein). Absence of this causes anaemia (pernicious anaemia)

Infections- Like malaria cause breaking of red cells

Anaemia of chronic disease.

• Long-term infections like cancer, AIDS, arthritis, kidney disease, chronic  diseases of gut (inflammatory bowel diseases) can cause anaemia

Failure of bone marrow to produce cells(Aplastic anaemia)

• It can be caused by viral infections, medications, chemicals and sometimes inherited from parents

Early breakage of red cells(Haemolytic anaemias)

• Lysis means ‘ to break’. certain infections and defects in red cells can cause early breakage of cells.

• There is generally a family history of such diseases

Various other types like thalassemia( genetic defects running in families), Sickle cells (genetic defects).

 

• The doctor can notice that the child is pale, the mouth and nails are colourless. The heartbeat could be fast with a murmur( sound due to fast moving blood)

• Blood test- to count number of red cells( Full blood count)

• Peripheral smear- to see the quality of cells( shape/ structure)

• Levels of iron, vitamins in blood

• If there is jaundice, then the reason for breakage of red cells needs to be found

• Bone marrow aspirate- The bone is drilled and the marrow ( factory of cell production) is observed.

• Genetic studies

 

• • Brown rice
  • Dark-green leafy vegetables
  • Pulses and beans
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Meat, fish, eggs

 

•  If the doctor feels it is due to deficiency of iron, he will start an iron syrup. (2-5 mg /kg/day).

• Its is given for approx 3 months and blood test is done to find cells increasing in number

• In some babies, anaemia at 2-4 months is noted. If the baby is born term (> 38-week gestation) then no treatment is generally given.

•  Blood is transfused if severely pale

 

• Severe pale looking child

• Drowsy, unconscious

• Heart disease

• Severe leg pain in pale child

• Jaundice