title: Iron deficiency anemia in children.
abstract: Iron deficiency is not just anemia; it can be responsible for a long list of other manifestations. This topic is of great importance, especially in infancy and early childhood, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, iron need is maximum in this period. Secondly, diet in infancy is usually deficient in iron. Thirdly and most importantly, iron deficiency at this age can result in neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits, which may not be reversible. Hypochromia and microcytosis in a complete blood count (CBC) makes iron deficiency anemia (IDA) most likely diagnosis. Absence of response to iron should make us look for other differential diagnosis like β thalassemia trait and anemia of chronic disease. Celiac disease is the most important cause of true IDA not responding to oral iron therapy. While oral ferrous sulphate is the cheapest and most effective therapy for IDA, simple nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures can go a long way in prevention of iron deficiency.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Midas Children Hospital, Nagpur, India, girishsubramaniam25@gmail.com.
authors: Girish
authors: G
authors: Subramaniam
authors: Meenakshi
authors: M
authors: Girish
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
references: Indian J Community Med. 2011 Jan;36(1):8-16
references: 21687374
references: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 May 12;(5):CD008132
references: 20464763
references: Pediatrics. 2007 Nov;120(5):1053-7
references: 17974743
references: BMJ. 2002 Nov 16;325(7373):1142
references: 12433763
references: J Pediatr. 1990 Jan;116(1):11-8
references: 2295949
references: Ann Intern Med. 1991 Oct 1;115(7):572-3
references: 1883128
references: Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Apr;54(8):1137-44
references: 22354919
references: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Dec;84(6):1261-76
references: 17158406
references: Pediatrics. 1992 Sep;90(3):375-9
references: 1518691
references: Hematol J. 2005;5(7):579-83
references: 15692603
references: J Nutr. 2004 Nov;134(11):3037-41
references: 15514272
references: Eur J Pediatr. 1993 Feb;152(2):120-4
references: 8444218
references: Hum Nutr Appl Nutr. 1986 Apr;40(2):97-113
references: 3700141
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Nov;160(11):1114-20
references: 17088513
references: Pediatrics. 2008 Mar;121(3):e673-7
references: 18310187
references: Lancet. 1997 Sep 20;350(9081):844-50
references: 9310602
references: Lancet. 1999 Feb 27;353(9154):712-6
references: 10073514
references: Ann Trop Paediatr. 1989 Mar;9(1):17-23
references: 2471438
references: Biol Trace Elem Res. 1992 Jan-Mar;32:421-6
references: 1375084
references: Arthritis Rheum. 2000 May;43(5):1016-20
references: 10817554
references: Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Dec;120(6):1522-6
references: 23168790
references: Am J Hematol. 2000 Aug;64(4):287-98
references: 10911382
references: Pediatrics. 1983 Jun;71(6):877-80
references: 6856400
references: Acta Paediatr. 2004 Oct;93(10):1391-6
references: 15499963
references: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1986;80(4):603-12
references: 3101243
references: Pediatrics. 1972 May;49(5):766-7
references: 4504176