Pediatric Anemia

What is anemia?

Anemia is a common blood disorder that occurs when there are fewer red blood cells than normal, or there is a low concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.

hemoglobin - the part of blood that distributes oxygen from the lungs to tissues in the body.
hematocrit - the measurement of the percentage of red blood cells found in a specific volume of blood.

Anemia is often a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. Anemia usually develops due to the presence of one of the following:

excessive blood loss or hemorrhaging
deficient production of red blood cells
excessive red blood cell destruction
both decreased production and excessive destruction of red blood cells

What are the symptoms of anemia in children?

Most symptoms of anemia are a result of the decrease of oxygen in the cells or "hypoxia." Because red blood cells, as hemoglobin, carry oxygen, a decreased production or number of these cells result in "hypoxia." Many of the symptoms will not be present with mild anemia, as the body can often compensate for gradual changes in hemoglobin.

The following are the most common symptoms for anemia. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. The symptoms may include, but are not limited to, the following:

abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin
increased heart rate (tachycardia)
breathlessness, or difficulty catching a breath (dyspnea)
lack of energy, or tiring easily (fatigue)
dizziness, or vertigo especially when standing
headache
irritability
irregular menstruation cycles
absent or delayed menstruation (amenorrhea)
sore or swollen tongue (glossitis)
jaundice, or yellowing of skin, eyes, and mouth
enlarged spleen or liver (splenomegaly, hepatomegaly)
slow or delayed growth and development
impaired wound and tissue healing

The symptoms of anemia may resemble other blood disorders or medical problems. Because anemia is often a symptom associated with another disease, it is important for your child's physician to be aware of symptoms he/she may be experiencing. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

What causes pediatric anemia?

Generally, anemia may be caused by several problems, including the following:

infection
certain diseases
certain medications
poor nutrition

What are the different types of anemia?

iron deficiency anemia
megaloblastic (pernicious) anemia
hemolytic anemia
sickle cell anemia
Cooley's anemia (thalassemia)
aplastic anemia
chronic anemia

How is anemia diagnosed in children?

Anemia may be suspected from general findings on a complete medical history and physical examination of your child, such as complaints of tiring easily, pale skin and lips, or a fast heartbeat (tachycardia). Anemia is usually discovered during a medical examination through blood tests that measure the concentration of hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells.

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for anemia may include:

additional blood tests
bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy - a procedure that involves taking a small amount of bone marrow fluid (aspiration) and/or solid bone marrow tissue (called a core biopsy), usually from the hip bones, to be examined for the number, size, and maturity of blood cells and/or abnormal cells.

Treatments for children with anemia:

Specific treatment for anemia will be determined by your child's physician based on the following:

your child's age, overall health, and medical history
the extent of the anemia
the type of anemia
cause of the anemia
your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the anemia
your opinion or preference

Anemia can be difficult to treat and may include:

vitamin and mineral supplements
change in your child's diet
medication and/or discontinuing causative medications
treatment of the causative disorder
surgery to remove spleen (if related to hemolytic anemia)
blood transfusions, if necessary (to replace significant loss)
antibiotics (if infection is causative agent)
bone marrow transplant (for aplastic anemia)

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