Anemia

Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells
or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have
too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in
your body will not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because
organs aren't getting what they need to function properly.
In most cases, anemia can be diagnosed with a few simple blood tests. The American
Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends universal screening for anemia with a
hemoglobin test at one year of age, and should include an assessment for any risk factors
for iron deficiency anemia.
Symptoms of Anemia
Many children with anemia have no symptoms. That's why it's important for children to
have routine blood tests to check for the condition. Some of the signs and symptoms that
might make a doctor suspect anemia in a child include:

Pale skin

Irritability

Weakness

Dizziness

Sore tongue

Rapid heartbeat

Rapid breathing

Yellow skin color

Causes of Anemia
Anemia, Iron deficiency and Iron-deficiency anemia are three conditions with minor
differences. Abnormally low hemoglobin level due to pathological conditions is defined as
anemia. Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of anemia.

There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into three groups:

Anemia caused by blood loss

Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production

Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Possible solution
There are low cost solutions to fight iron deficiency. Most of the iron compounds in our
body are continuously broken down and re-cycled. As a result very little iron is lost from
the body except when bleeding occurs.
For children between 12 to 60 months, doctors prescribe one tablet of 20 mg elemental iron
and 10mg of folate (IFA) for 100 days in a year. Iron and folic acid tablets are distributed to
young children by our health department through RCH II program run by the Department
of Women and Child Development. Children between 6 to 60 months are given one
millilitre of IFA syrup for hundred days in a year.

Dietary solutions
Daily consumption of honey mixed in warm water can help combat anemia and increase the
red blood cell count. This can help raise energy levels and cell renewal and rejuvenation.
However, children under the age of one should not consume honey

Conclusion
Anemia is a common blood disorder that occurs when the number of red blood cells is
below normal or when the hemoglobin concentration in the blood is low.
Generally, anemia is detected during a physical examination that includes blood tests that
measure the concentration of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
Treatment of aplastic anemia include the elimination of the causative agent, supportive care
with transfusion of red blood cells and platelets as necessary, prophylaxis and treatment of
bacterial and fungal infections, immunosuppressive therapy and bone marrow
transplantation.
Anemia should be taken seriously. It is more than just tiredness; it affects the entire body,
especially in growing children.