$Unique_ID{PAR00014}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Anemia}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Anemia Anemic pale Paleness nail beds fingernails eyelids membranes
inside mouth Tiredness Shortness breath Rapid pulse Jaundice}
$Log{
Four Food Groups*0001401.tif}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Anemia


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Paleness of nail beds
     - Paleness inside eyelids
     - Paleness of membranes inside mouth
     - Tiredness
     - Shortness of breath
     - Rapid pulse
     - Jaundice

     HOME CARE
     - None.  See your doctor.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Never attempt to treat anemia without your doctor's advice.
     - Give your children a balanced diet that includes all the necessary
       nutrients.
     - Keep iron supplements out of the reach of children.  An overdose of
       iron can be dangerous.
     - Detecting anemia early is important.  See your doctor if you suspect
       that your child is anemic.  Be sure children have regular physical
       examinations.


     Anemia occurs when there is too little hemoglobin in the blood.
Hemoglobin is the substance that carries oxygen in the blood and gives the
blood its red color.  Normally, hemoglobin is contained within the red blood
cells (RBCs).  A child can be anemic because there are too few RBCs, because
each RBC contains too little hemoglobin, or as a result of both conditions.
     There are more than 30 types of anemia, each with its own cause and
treatment.  The most common is iron deficiency anemia.  Anemia can occur at
any age.  Some forms run in families; others are acquired.  Among the most
common causes of anemia are a poor diet that does not include enough of the
nutrients needed to manufacture hemoglobin (iron, protein, folic acid, vitamin
B12, and copper); the loss of blood by internal or external bleeding; failure
to absorb nutrients, even though they are ingested; the formation of abnormal
(short-lived) RBCs; inability of the bone marrow to produce RBCs fast enough;
and the too-rapid destruction of normal RBCs within the body.  In addition to
the many diseases that are forms of anemia, many other illnesses can produce
anemia.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Most cases of anemia produce no symptoms.  However, tiredness, shortness
of breath, rapid pulse, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of
the eyes) may be clues.  If a child is pale, check the nail beds, the insides
of the eyelids, and the membranes inside the mouth for additional
colorlessness.  Also watch for these possible causes of anemia:  vomiting of
blood, blood in the stools (red or tarry, black bowel movements), excessive
menstruation, a grossly inadequate diet, chronic diarrhea, and exposure to
poisonous substances.
     If you think your child might have anemia, see your doctor.  The presence
and type of anemia can be determined only by laboratory tests.  Periodic
examinations and a medical history taken by a doctor can help detect anemia
early, an important factor in treatment.  If one family member has anemia,
watch for symptoms in other family members.

HOME CARE

     Never attempt to treat anemia yourself.  The wrong treatment can be
harmful and will make a proper medical diagnosis difficult.  All children
should receive a balanced diet to prevent anemia caused by lack of proper
nutrition.

PRECAUTION

  -  Iron overdosing is a common cause of poisoning among children in this
     country.  If iron supplements are prescribed by your doctor, keep them
     out of the reach of children.  Some iron medicines are sweet, and
     children might mistake them for candy.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     To evaluate your child for anemia, the doctor will conduct a physical
examination, take a medical history, and perform a complete blood cell count.
Your doctor may also need to take a reticulocyte (young RBC) count, a platelet
(a blood element that aids in clotting) count, and measurements of iron and of
the iron-binding capacity in the blood.  More extensive testing, if necessary,
may include hemoglobin electrophoresis, sickle cell test, urinalysis, test of
stools for hidden blood, examination of bone marrow, test for poisons,
examination of both parents' blood, x-ray of the intestinal tract, and tests
of the chemical content of the blood.  These tests will determine the type of
anemia that is present.
     The treatment prescribed may include adding supplemental iron and
vitamins to the diet, a change in diet, and, in rare cases, a blood
transfusion.  Iron or vitamin injections are rarely necessary.  As treatment
proceeds, be sure additional tests are scheduled to check on the effectiveness
of the treatment.  The proof of proper treatment is in the cure.

RELATED TOPICS:  G6PD deficiency; Sickle cell anemia