About 5% of the Earth's crust is comprised of iron and iron is, by mass, the most common element on Earth. Despite this abundance, iron deficiency is relatively common among humans. In fact, it is the most common cause of anemia in the world. Human beings need to consume iron in order to meet their daily iron needs. When the balance between the quantity of iron consumed, the amount of iron stored in the body, and the body's iron loss fails to support Red Blood Cell (RBC) production, it results Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). 1
Large quantities of iron are used by our body's RBCs to produce hemoglobin, the protein responsible for helping RBCs carry oxygen to different parts of our body. Before developing anemia, a person's iron stores (iron present in his or her body) are reduced or lost. This makes dietary iron and RBC-recycled iron important in helping meet the iron demands of the RBC production process. If, however this loss of iron continues, the resulting RBCs will have lesser hemoglobin. 1
Effective and low-cost treatments to fully reverse IDA very much exists. Yet, IDA continues to be the world's most common nutritional disorder. 30-50% of anemia in children is attributed to IDA. So, how do you as a parent, recognize whether your child has IDA? It is quite easy to miss the symptoms as these symptoms are commonly seen in other common conditions.
Causes of IDA in Kids 1 3 4
Children today are not consuming adequately nutritious diets. In fact, the most common cause of IDA is poor intake of dietary iron coupled with:
Recognizing IDA
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms below are common indicatorsof iron deficiency. Should you observe these in your child, then it could be IDA.
If you notice these symptoms in your child, he or she may be suffering from IDA. It is best to visit a healthcare specialist to get a confirmation. Remember, iron deficiency and the resulting anemia are curable and reversible through a healthy diet and iron supplementation.
Preventing and Treatment of IDA in Toddlers
IDA is a highly prevalent condition with children being specifically at risk of developing it. Regular screening, an iron rich diet, and iron supplements are means to keep IDA at bay. Monitor your child's iron needs and take steps to help their body meet them.
Reference
1 Miller JL.IDA: a common and curable disease.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013 Jul 1;3(7).
2 World Health Organization 2007. Conclusions and recommendations of the WHO consultation on prevention and control of iron deficiency in infants and young children in malaria-endemic areas. Food Nutr Bull 28: S621–S627
3 Özdemir N.IDAfrom diagnosis to treatment in children.Turk Pediatri Ars. 2015 Mar 1;50(1):11-9. doi: 10.5152/tpa.2015.2337. eCollection 2015 Mar. Review.
4 Springer. (2017, September 27). Iron supplements have long-term benefits for low birth-weight babies: Follow-up study finds early iron intervention can lower levels of aggression and rule-breaking behavior in children age 7. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 9, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170927123600.htm
5 Is your child getting enough iron? (2019, February 19). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/iron-deficiency/art-20045634
6Kazal LA. Prevention of Iron Deficiency in Infants and Toddlers. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Oct 1;66(7):1217-1225.
7Iron Deficiency Anemia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & More. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttps://www.healthline.com/health/iron-deficiency-anemia#prevention