Iron deficiency anemia - children

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Formed elements of blood

Hemoglobin

Red blood cells, target cells

Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells bring oxygen to body tissues.

There are many types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood due to a lack of iron.

This article focuses on iron deficiency anemia in children.

Anemia - iron deficiency - children

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. You get iron through certain foods, and your body also reuses iron from old red blood cells.

Iron deficiency (too little iron) may be caused by:

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• An iron-poor diet (this is the most common cause)
• Body not being able to absorb iron very well, even though you're eating enough iron
• Long-term, slow blood loss -- usually through menstrual periods or bleeding in the digestive tract
• Rapid growth (in the first year of life and in adolescence), when more iron is needed

Babies are born with iron stored in their bodies. Because they grow rapidly, infants and children need to absorb an average of 1 mg of iron per day.

Since children only absorb about 10% of the iron they eat, most children need to receive 8-10 mg of iron per day. Breastfed babies need less, because iron is absorbed 3 times better when it is in breast milk.

Cow’s milk is a common cause of iron deficiency. It contains less iron than many other foods and also makes it more difficult for the body to absorb iron from other foods. Cow's milk also can cause the intestines to lose small amounts of blood.

The risk of developing iron deficiency anemia is increased in:

• Infants younger than 12 months who drink cow's milk rather than breast milk or iron-fortified formula
• Young children who drink a lot of cow's milk rather than eating foods that supply the body with more iron

Iron deficiency anemia most commonly affects babies 9 - 24 months old. All babies should have a screening test for iron deficiency at this age. Babies born prematurely may need to be tested earlier.

Iron deficiency in children also can be related to lead poisoning.

Review Date: 03/16/2010
Reviewed By: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).