Parents often wonder if their child or teen might be anemic and if we should do a blood test to make sure they\u2019re healthy. Often, the answer is yes.<\/p>\n
Many kids are anemic, and the most common cause of anemia is not eating a diet high enough in iron. Iron is essential in rapidly growing babies, toddlers, and teens.<\/p>\n
The body uses iron to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the cells of the body. If there\u2019s not enough iron to create those red blood cells, it results in iron-deficiency anemia. This can cause decreased energy, growth delay, learning, and focus problems in young children, and other symptoms in older kids.<\/p>\n
While milk can be a valuable part of a child\u2019s diet, providing protein, calcium, and vitamin D, too much milk can cause problems. Cow\u2019s milk is a poor source of iron and can make it hard to absorb iron from other foods. Therefore, it must be given in moderate amounts and only to children over age one. Some toddlers really like to drink lots of milk, but parents need to limit them to no more than two 8-ounce cups of milk per day.<\/p>\n
To learn if a child is anemic, we will often ask about their diet to see how high in iron it is. We also do a physical exam to look for pale skin, lips, and conjunctiva (lining of the eyelids) and listen for a rapid heart rate. Many kids who are mildly anemic have no symptoms, but if the anemia is more severe, it may cause symptoms.<\/p>\n
If a blood test confirms that your child is anemic, we\u2019ll recommend treatment based on the degree of their anemia. In all cases, you should focus on feeding them an iron-rich diet.<\/p>\n
We often suggest giving kids a daily multivitamin<\/a> with iron or prescribe an iron supplement for several months to refill their body\u2019s iron stores. Don\u2019t give the vitamin or supplement with milk. It\u2019s ideal to give it with a drink high in vitamin C, like orange juice. If we offer a prescription, we usually recheck their blood count in 1 to 3 months.<\/p>\n There are several ways to help prevent your child from getting iron-deficient anemia.<\/p>\n My Doctor Online<\/p>\n Iron Deficient Anemia<\/a><\/p>\n American Red Cross<\/p>\n Iron Rich Foods<\/a><\/p>\n Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/p>\nPrevent anemia in children<\/h3>\n
\n
Resources for Parents<\/h4>\n