Indian Academy of Pediatrics has published the parent guideline for treating children with anemia.
Anemia refers to a reduction in red blood cells or hemoglobin. The normal range of hemoglobin values changes as the child grows. The average normal and lower hemoglobin limit below which anemia is defined by your doctor. Dr Shrinivas Tambe is a renowned Paediatric Intensivist and Neonatologist in Pune and would like to state a few details from the guidelines.
What are the harmful effects of anemia to my child?
In anemia, The body of the child gets used to a low level of hemoglobin. However, children’s growing body and brain continue to suffer harm even when the anemia is mild. Anemia is harmful to the developing brain. Children with anemia have lower scores in memory, reading, speaking, and mathematic skills. Some of these brain changes may remain permanent despite treating the child with iron. Anemia is harmful as it affects the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension.
Anemia also causes weakness, poor appetite, reduced capacity for playing, running, and low productivity. It lowers the immunity of the child and increases the chances of infections and even brain strokes
As a parent, how will I know that my child has anemia?
Anemia is widespread in children in India. Overall, 41% of preschoolers (age 1–4 years), 24% of school-age children (age 5–9 years), and 28% of adolescents (age 10–19 years) have anemia in India (Source of information: Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey: 2016–18, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India). As a parent, you will often not be able to assess easily that your child has anemia. The problems caused by anemia are typically apparent only when the anemia is severe (below 7–8 g/dL). When the anemia is mild, it is possible to know only by a blood test. When the anemia is severe, the child becomes pale or light-colored It leads to weakness, easy fatigability, poor appetite, and reduced capacity for playing, exercising, and reading
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