The causes and consequences of anemia in children


Has your child started to beat a heart more often? Or does he complain of dizziness and dyspnea, and instead of chupa-chups asks chalk? You are not alone. According to the latest data, about half of the world's children suffer from anemia. And in recent years, the number of babies - "anemones" is growing at a serious pace. The good cause, the causes and consequences of anemia in children is no longer a secret. Read and you - and let it never come in handy ...

Despite the name of the disease (anemia, or anemia), the amount of blood in children is normal. What is sorely lacking is hemoglobin and erythrocytes (red blood cells), which are responsible for delivering oxygen from the lungs to the organs and tissues. So, the heart tries to work harder, so that all organs receive the necessary amount of nutrients. Detect anemia at any age, but still the first at risk - pregnant women, children in the period of increased growth, as well as adolescents during hormonal adjustment. Yes, in the younger generation anemia is much more common than in adults. And this is not surprising. After all, what kind of metamorphosis does not happen with the organism during this period. Happen and unpleasant ...

How does it happen?

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia in children. It occurs in 80% of cases. It is not difficult to guess that its occurrence is due to a lack of iron. The remaining 20% ​​lack vitamins B 6 , B 12 and folic acid (vitamin deficiency anemia), as well as protein (protein deficiency anemia). To find out exactly which vitamins to drink and what product to add to the diet, you can at a survey. But there are also cases when anemia is caused not by errors in nutrition. The trigger for the disease is often various injuries and operations, accompanied by a large blood loss. But this is a separate story, and it is no longer necessary to talk about prevention, but about urgent help.

Deviations from the norm.

The World Health Organization has determined the normal content of hemoglobin, as 120-140 g per liter of blood. The lower limit of the norm for newborns is 130 g / l, for children 3 months - 95-100 g / l, from 1 to 3 years -110 g / l, 4-12 years -115 g / l. By and large, these indicators are very conditional. All children are born with an abundance of red blood cells in the blood. For this reason, during the first two months of life, the hemoglobin level may drop below 90 g / l. It's not terrible: soon the mechanism of the formation of new red blood cells will turn on, and everything will return to normal. However, in premature infants, the formation of new blood cells may be slowed by lack of iron - in this case, the risk of developing true anemia increases. So if the level of red blood cells does not return to normal within a few months, beeping! In a child of the first three years of life, a pre-neem state occurs if the hemoglobin level is reduced to 110 g / l. To avoid unpleasant surprises, during routine examination, ask the hemoglobin level of your baby. Analyzes in children are taken quite often, but the interest in this indicator of the mother is shown only occasionally. But in vain.

Symptoms.

Pale skin and mucous membranes, palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches and tinnitus, dizziness, weakness and fatigue are common symptoms for all forms of anemia. And if your child has a desire to eat land or chalk, then for parents this is a signal to action! In this unusual way, the patient instinctively replenishes the deficiency of iron and minerals in the body. Another reason to suspect a child of scarce anemia - his excessive love for cereals and milk. Especially if the child did not want to look at them before. Change can not only food preferences, but behavior itself. Children become more capricious, whiny, or, conversely, listless and indifferent. As a rule, with deficient anemias, the condition of nails and hair deteriorates, the skin flakes off, and the tongue looks as if it is "varnished". At girls matured at puberty, the disease is manifested by pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, a violation of the menstrual cycle.

Anemia is an insidious disease. Sometimes it is the only and early symptom of the disease, which for a long time did not make itself felt. In mild cases, general symptoms may be absent altogether, and the latent form is manifested only by mild ailment. What can not be said about the form of heavy. It can be accompanied even by pathological forms of red blood cells.

With what does it eat?

The diagnosis of "anemia" - not a reproach to parents that their baby is malnourished or feeds on poor-quality products. The reason for deficiency anemia is most often hidden in a monotonous diet. How does your child feel about boiled liver, meat, eggs and greens, especially spinach, lettuce and green onions? Has nothing against? Then spend "days fighting for iron." Dislikes? We'll have to look for alternative methods. Of course, an apple will not refuse an apple. And do not forget to have a session of white magic at home: stick a couple of nails in a green apple and leave it for a day. Apple produces apple-malic iron, which means that your favorite fruit will become more useful, and your mother will gain the reputation of a good sorceress. By the way, thermal treatment does not influence the content of useful elements that prevent anemia, therefore children who do not like raw greens can be given it in boiled form (add to the soup, mashed potatoes). But do not overdo it! A lot of iron is also not good. Its excess leads to the development of hemochromatosis. In this disease, excess iron is deposited in the tissues, which can disrupt their function.

Content of IRON (mg 100 g of products):

Cow milk - 0, 05

Carrots - 0,7

Spinach, lettuce - 6

Fish - 1

Egg - 2.5

Bread from wholemeal flour - 2,4

Liver - 10

Bread from fine flour - 1,2

Potatoes - 0,7

Broccoli - 0.8

Cabbage - 0,5

Chicken - 1,5

Nuts - 3.0

Beans - 1,8

Tomatoes - 0.6

Apples, pears - 0,8-0,9

Brussels sprouts - 1,2

Oranges - 0,8-0,9