Anemia - a strong decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. It occurs in adults and children, may be mild or severe. The causes of anemia in an infant include unhealthy diet during pregnancy, Rhesus conflict between the mother and fetus, intrauterine infection of herpes virus infection, rubella, toxoplasmosis. These diseases are sure to be treated, otherwise you may develop dangerous complications.
why is there
Hemoglobin is important for the child's body. With the help of oxygen and nutrients to all cells enter the body. Reducing the amount of hemoglobin violates the transport function, leading to hypoxia. Such a condition is dangerous because after a while the destructive changes occur in all internal organs. Anemia develops in infants, for various reasons. They are congenital and acquired during the first months after birth.
The causes of the disease include:
- Active destruction of hemoglobin. Most often this occurs when bone marrow diseases, spleen and liver.
- Heredity. Genetic abnormalities lead to disruption of the formation of red blood cells. Their amounts become starved for oxygen transport that promotes oxygen starvation internal organs.
- Prematurity. In infants born prematurely, hematopoietic organs are formed not through, because of which the synthesis is disrupted erythrocytes. As a result, there is a shortage of them, leading to a low concentration of hemoglobin in the blood and the development of anemia.
- Multiple pregnancy. Do twins or triplets hemoglobin levels often reduced.
- Improper diet. Anemia can develop due to intolerance to certain foods during weaning.
- Rapid transition from breastfeeding to the artificial mixture.
- Congenital tumor. Such education often leads to a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Congenital diseases of the digestive organs. Anatomical structure defects in the intestinal or stomach leads to the fact that disrupted absorption of vitamins, folic acid and iron from the incoming food. As a result of developing anemia.
- Rhesus conflict in the mother and baby. Because of the damaged red blood cells of the immune response that leads to a strong decrease in hemoglobin in the blood.
What are the symptoms
If the disease is mild, the suspect anemia in a child up to a year is difficult. The first signs of disease begin to appear when the hemoglobin level falls below the minimum standards.
Anemia in infants is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- We are lagging behind in physical development. Baby after 3 months of bad starts to gain weight and develop more slowly.
- The baby begins to get sick often colds.
- Decreased appetite, distorted eating habits. Sometimes the child can completely renounce the use of certain products.
- Skin begin to fade. If the disease is in a severe form, the baby's lips are blue, the skin - pale and transparent with good translucent veins.
- The skin loses moisture and becomes dry and easily injured.
- In the corners of the mouth there are small cracks.
- There is a general weakness, drowsiness, activity decreases.
- Changing behavior. The child becomes restless, difficulty falling asleep, refuses to breastfeed.
- Broken chair. Often develop constipation or diarrhea.
These symptoms require prompt treatment of anemia.
How to treat
Anemia in infants should be treated, as can develop severe complications. The doctor prescribes the necessary tests and prescribe medications to raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Treatment of anemia in children under one year often done drugs in liquid form.
Diet
To get rid of anemia, it is important to feed properly and systematically child. The basis of the baby food up to 1 year should be breast milk. The diet of a breastfeeding mother should include more greens, vegetables, as well as liver, pork and beef. But sometimes the breast milk is not enough. In this case, anemia in infants treated by introducing a diet of special mixtures containing iron and vitamins. Cow's milk is not recommended to give the child at this age, because This product may be unsafe.
It can be included in the diet of oatmeal or applesauce. As they get older menu replenish beet or pomegranate juice, brussels sprouts, parsley, spinach. Favor will bring soup with liver.
vitamins
Newborn Anemia is not isolated and is often accompanied by lack of vitamin B12, C, folic acid. To make up for their lack, the doctor prescribes these elements into smaller doses.
preparations
Pharmacies is a wide range of iron preparations, which combine well with breastfeeding. But before using them need to consult a doctor. To treat anemia in a newborn should iron preparations in the form of syrup or drops. These include:
- a compound of divalent iron - Ferronat, totem gemofer, Aktiferrin;
- ferric compound - Ferlatum, Ferrum Lek, Maltofer.
Due to such treatment in the body of the child, this element begins to accumulate in the required amount. Therefore, the course of therapy may last for 2-3 months.
The dangerous
Anemia in infants can lead to various complications. Particularly high probability of occurrence of adverse effects in infants, because in this period there is an intensive growth and development of many body systems. Low hemoglobin levels is dangerous because the body tissues are saturated with oxygen is bad and loses nutrients, because of which inhibited the physical development of the child.
In addition, anemia in infants leads to the fact that from hypoxia begin to suffer heart and brain. This leads to disruption of their work. Also this pathology in infants or monthly child reduces the overall resistance to infectious diseases. If anemia occurs in severe form, microcracks appear on the skin that often become inflamed.