Anemia is a common occurrence in children, with iron-deficiency anemia being the most common type. Around 10 percent of kids between 1 and 3 have iron-deficiency anemia, according to the Family Practice Notebook, and 20 percent of American children will develop iron-deficiency anemia at some point before age 18, according to "American Family Physician."
Causes
Children are born with enough iron stores to last through their first 4 months. Premature infants, who don't have as much prenatal time to acquire iron stores, can become anemic 2 months after birth, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine reports. Infants who are exclusively breastfed after 4 months without iron supplements can become anemic, since breast milk contains little iron. Infants fed cow's milk can also become anemic. Iron comes in two forms: heme, obtained from meat, and non-heme, obtained from plants. Most infants are deficient in heme iron, which is the type that's absorbed better. Diseases that cause malabsorption can also cause anemia in children; milk allergy can cause internal blood loss that leads to anemia.
Symptoms
Most children with anemia don't have any symptoms, reports "American Family Physician." In children who have symptoms, irritability, weakness, pallor and headaches are common signs of iron-deficiency anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause appetite loss and anorexia. Children may be inattentive and have difficulty concentrating. Some children with iron deficiency develop pica, which is eating inedible substances such as dirt or starch. Developmental delays and poor growth can affect some children. Rarely, children have blue sclera and spoon-shaped fingernails.
Treatment
Infants between 4 months and 1 year should receive iron supplements or solid food containing iron. Fortified formulas rather than cow's milk should be used up to age 1 in infants who are not breastfed. Blood transfusions rarely become necessary in children who have iron-deficiency anemia related to low iron levels in the diet.
Complications
Severe iron-deficiency anemia can cause long-term health complications, even if the deficiency is corrected. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent developmental delays, such as low IQ scores, poor school performance, poor gross and fine motor coordination, and behavioral issues such as clinginess, fearfulness and unhappiness, according to the Family Practice Notebook.
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