Symptoms of iron deficiency in eight-month-old babies

In our lives, many babies lack some trace elements during their growth. A common phenomenon is that the baby may be ischemic. If the baby is ischemic, the most likely symptom is anemia. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement the baby with iron in time, or eat some iron-supplementing foods, especially for babies who are growing up at seven or eight months old. So what are the symptoms of iron deficiency in eight-month-old babies?

Due to iron deficiency, the activity of iron-containing enzymes in the body is reduced, resulting in metabolic disorders in many tissue cells. The clinical symptoms and degree of anemia are related to the severity of onset. In mild cases, there may be no subjective discomfort except for a sallow complexion. People with severe anemia may also have glossitis, atrophy of the tongue mucosa, smooth tongue, congestion, and reduced ferroxine enzyme activity, which can cause metabolic disorders in many tissue cells. The clinical symptoms and degree of anemia are related to the severity of onset. In mild cases, there may be no subjective discomfort except for a sallow complexion. People with severe anemia may also have glossitis, atrophy of the tongue mucosa, smooth tongue, congestion and a burning sensation. Sometimes, subjective symptoms such as a foreign body sensation in the esophagus, a tightness feeling, or difficulty swallowing also occur.

Anemia in infants and young children is mostly caused by iron deficiency. Infants and young children with iron deficiency generally have symptoms such as lack of laughter, fatigue, and loss of appetite. It should be made clear that "anemia" cannot be simply equated with "iron deficiency". Iron deficiency can cause anemia, but anemia is not necessarily caused by iron deficiency. To determine whether a baby is iron deficient and needs iron supplements, a professional doctor should conduct examination and confirmation. It is recommended that mothers do not give their babies iron supplements without authorization, and should not use medication based on their feelings without examination. If babies consume too much iron supplements, it will interfere with the absorption of other trace elements and is not good for their health. When iron supplementation is really necessary, you can first choose food supplementation. For babies who have already started eating complementary foods, it is recommended to eat iron-fortified infant formula rice cereal. When the baby is older, you can add red meat and green vegetables, which can also help with iron supplementation. If the baby's iron deficiency is severe, oral iron supplements can be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Only in severe cases of iron deficiency do iron injections or blood tonic injections are needed. Mothers should not give their babies extra iron, calcium and other nutritional supplements just in the hope of "preventing anemia" or "preventing calcium deficiency."

Causes of iron deficiency in babies

1. Impact of food intake

Oxalic acid, phytic acid in food and a high-phosphorus, low-calcium diet can inhibit the absorption of iron. I often hear many mothers say: My child is a little iron deficient, so I chop up some black fungus and spinach and add them to the rice. It is not impossible to do so. Fungus and spinach do contain high iron content, but their absorption rate is quite low. Therefore, you can learn more about it and consume some foods that are high in iron and easily absorbed to effectively ensure the absorption of iron.

2. Insufficient iron intake

The main source of iron in the human body comes from food. Newborn babies mainly consume milk, which has a low iron content. Every 100 ml of breast milk contains 1 mg of iron, while every 100 ml of cow's milk contains only 0.1-0.5 mg of iron. In addition, the absorption rate of milk in the intestine is lower than that of breast milk, so babies who are bottle-fed are more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia.

3. Absorption rate of food iron

Generally speaking, the absorption rate of iron in plant foods is lower than that in animal foods. For example, fish accounts for 11%, rice accounts for 1%, flour and wheat account for 5%, black beans and corn account for 3%, fruits and vegetables account for 3-4%, hemoglobin accounts for 25%, animal liver and meat account for 22%, and eggs account for only 3%. I believe that through this set of relatively intuitive data, everyone will know which foods they should choose to supplement iron. Targeted supplementation is of great benefit to effectively alleviate iron deficiency!