What is iron-deficiency anemia?
Iron-deficiency anemia is a type of anemia that happens when your child’s body does not have enough iron. Iron helps make hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body.
Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia
Signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia can be mild at first but can become more severe over time. Common symptoms include:
- Feeling tired or weak (fatigue)
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Pale skin or pale color inside the lower eyelids
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Cold hands and feet
- Pica: eating items that are not food
Causes of iron-deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia can happen for several reasons, including:
- Not getting enough iron in your diet: If your child does not eat enough foods rich in iron, their body will not get the iron it needs. Iron-rich foods include meat, beans, and green leafy vegetables.
- Blood loss: Losing blood due to surgery, injury, bleeding of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or heavy menstrual periods can lead to low iron levels.
- Problems absorbing iron: Some health problems, medicines, or surgeries that affect the gastrointestinal tract can make it hard for your child’s body to absorb iron from the food they eat.
- Increased need for iron: The body may need more iron due to growth spurts, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Other medical conditions: Some genetic conditions, kidney disease, and other health problems can affect how the body uses iron.
Diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is diagnosed based on your child’s medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. Lab tests may include a complete blood count (CBC) test to measure the number and size of blood cells.
Your health care provider will compare your child’s test results with those of normal, healthy children and discuss them with you.
Treatment of iron-deficiency anemia
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your child’s iron-deficiency anemia. Your child’s care provider may refer your child to a hematologist, a doctor who diagnoses and treats blood disorders.
If blood loss or another health issue is the cause, treating that problem is important.
Other treatments may include:
- Eating iron-rich foods: Good sources of iron include lean red meat, dark green leafy vegetables, dried beans, dried fruits, eggs, salmon, iron-fortified breads and cereals, peas, and tofu.
- Eating foods rich in vitamin C: Vitamin C can help your child’s body better absorb iron. Good sources of vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes.
- Iron supplements given by mouth
- Iron infusion given by vein through an IV
- Blood transfusion to increase the amount of iron and number of red blood cells in your child’s body
- Medicines to help your child’s bone marrow make more red blood cells
Prognosis for iron-deficiency anemia
With the right treatment, most people start to feel better in a few weeks to a few months. The outlook can depend on the cause of anemia.
- If anemia is due to a temporary issue, such as blood loss, anemia usually improves once the underlying cause is treated.
- If the anemia is due to a long-term condition, ongoing care might be needed to keep iron levels normal.
Without treatment, iron-deficiency anemia can lead to serious health issues, like heart problems and pregnancy complications. Severe anemia can also make other health conditions worse or make their treatments less effective.
How to manage iron-deficiency anemia
Eat a healthy diet
Make sure your child eats foods rich in iron and vitamin C. These foods will help your child’s body absorb iron better. A dietitian can help you know if your child is getting the nutrients they need.
Give iron supplements as prescribed
Your care team may prescribe iron by mouth, such as a pill or liquid. Here are some tips to make the iron work well and prevent side effects:
- Give iron on an empty stomach: Your child’s body absorbs iron best when the stomach is empty. Try to give the supplement 1–2 hours before or after meals. If your child has an upset stomach, give with a small amount of food or at bedtime.
- Do not give iron with foods, drinks, or medicines that have calcium: Calcium keeps the body from absorbing iron.
- Give the iron with orange juice: The vitamin C in orange juice helps your child’s body absorb iron. If they do not like orange juice, try apple, mango, or pineapple juice. Avoid calcium-enriched orange juice.
Iron supplements can cause your child to have dark stool (poop). Your child might also have constipation. This means stool is harder and more difficult to pass. Talk to your health care provider. They may recommend medicine or diet changes to help with these side effects.
Take all medicines as directed by your health care provider.
Monitor your child’s symptoms
Keep a record of how your child feels. If your child is weak or dizzy, your care team may suggest periods of rest and may talk to you about ways to prevent falls. These methods include:
- Get up slowly from a lying or sitting position
- Help with walking, using stairs, or other activities
- Decluttering areas to prevent tripping over things
Regular check-ups and sticking to the treatment plan are important for a good outcome. If your child’s symptoms get worse, talk to your health care provider.
Questions to ask your care team
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Reviewed: November 2024
