What should we do if children have nutritional iron deficiency anemia?

Nutritional iron deficiency anemia is a relatively common disease occurring in children. The main cause of this type of disease is iron deficiency in the patients. Because when the body lacks iron, the synthesis of hemoglobin will be reduced. For the healthy growth of children, it is necessary to improve this anemia condition in time. Below are some helpful methods compiled by the editor to improve nutritional iron deficiency anemia.

Iron therapy

(1) Oral iron preparations: Oral iron preparations are specific drugs for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Unless there is a special reason, they should be administered orally. Divalent iron salts are easily absorbed, so they are usually used in clinical practice. Commonly used oral iron preparations include ferrous sulfate (containing 20% ​​elemental iron), ferrous fumarate (containing 33% elemental iron), ferrous gluconate (containing 12% elemental iron), ferrous succinate (containing 35% elemental iron), and ferric iron (containing 46% elemental iron). The dosage of oral iron preparations is 4-6 mg/kg of elemental iron per day, divided into 3 times for oral administration. The single dose should not exceed 1.5-2 mg/kg of elemental iron. It is best to take it orally between meals, which can both reduce gastrointestinal side effects and increase absorption. Taking vitamin C at the same time can increase iron absorption.

(2) Iron injection: Iron injection is more likely to cause adverse reactions, and may even cause allergic reactions and death, so it should be used with caution.

(3) Reaction after iron treatment: 12 to 24 hours after oral iron administration, intracellular iron enzymes begin to recover, mental symptoms such as irritability are alleviated, and appetite increases. Reticulocyte count begins to rise 2-3 days after taking the medicine, reaches a peak on the 5th to 7th day, and returns to normal after 2-3 weeks. After 1 to 2 weeks of treatment, hemoglobin gradually increases and usually reaches normal after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment. If hemoglobin rises less than 20g/L within 3 weeks, look for the cause. If the treatment response is satisfactory, continue to take iron supplements for 6 to 8 weeks after hemoglobin returns to normal to increase iron storage.

I believe that everyone now has some understanding of how to improve nutritional iron deficiency anemia, but some patients with more severe anemia need to be treated with red blood cell transfusions. Because nutritional iron deficiency anemia can cause heart failure, parents must promptly detect their children's symptoms and take treatment measures.