title: A practical approach to the evaluation of the anemic child.
abstract: Anemia is a sign of disease and not a final diagnosis. The clinician's goal is to define the underlying cause. The anemia may be due to decreased production or Increased destruction or loss of red blood cells. Integration of the results of the initial CBC. particularly the RBC indices, the peripheral blood smear, the history and the physical examination can help organize the focus of further evaluations and, ultimately, minimize the number of tests needed to make a firm diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hermiston
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Mentzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged