Iron for children: the importance and signs of a lack

Iron for children: the importance and signs of a lack

I. The role of iron in the development of the child

Iron is a vital trace element that plays a key role in numerous physiological processes, especially during the period of active growth and development of children. Its deficiency can lead to serious consequences that affect cognitive functions, immunity, physical development and general well -being of the child. Understanding the importance of iron and timely identification of the signs of its lack is the key to a healthy future baby.

IA oxygen transport and hemoglobin

The main function of iron is participation in the synthesis of hemoglobin, protein contained in red blood cells (red blood cells). Hemoglobin is responsible for the transfer of oxygen from lungs to all tissues and organs of the body. Iron is the central atom in the hemoglobin molecule, binding oxygen and providing its delivery to cells to maintain their life. The lack of iron leads to a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, which, in turn, reduces the ability of the blood to transfer oxygen. This condition is called iron deficiency anemia.

IB brain development and cognitive functions

Iron plays an important role in the development of the brain, especially in the first years of the child’s life. It is necessary for the synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, which regulate mood, sleep, appetite and cognitive functions, including attention, memory and training. Iron also participates in myelinization of nerve fibers, a process that ensures the effective transmission of nerve impulses. Iron deficiency can violate these processes, leading to a delay in cognitive development, a decrease in academic performance and behavioral problems. Studies show that iron deficiency anemia at an early age may have long -term negative consequences for cognitive functioning.

IC immune system and infection protection

Iron is necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system. It is involved in the ripening and activation of immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes, which play a key role in protecting the body from infections. Iron is also necessary for the synthesis of enzymes involved in the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms. Iron deficit weakens the immune system, making the child more susceptible to infectious diseases, such as a cold, flu, otitis media and pneumonia. Children with iron deficiency are also more slowly recovering after diseases.

ID Energetic exchange and growth

Iron is involved in energy metabolism, helping cells use oxygen to produce energy. It is part of the enzymes involved in the Crebs cycle and the electronic transport circuit, which are the main ways of energy production in cells. Iron deficiency can lead to a decrease in the energy level, fatigue and weakness. Iron is also necessary for the normal growth and development of the child. It is involved in the synthesis of DNA and proteins, which are building blocks of the body. Children with iron deficiency can lag behind in growth and development.

IE Other iron functions

In addition to the above functions, iron is involved in the following processes:

• The synthesis of thyroid hormones.
• Metabolism of B vitamins B.
• Regulation of appetite.
• Maintaining health, hair and nails.
• Detoxification The body.

II. Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency in children

Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency in children can vary depending on the age, severity of the deficiency and individual characteristics of the body. In the early stages, iron deficiency can be asymptomatic or manifested by insignificant signs that often go unnoticed. As the deficiency progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced and can have a significant effect on the health and development of the child.

II.A. General signs and symptoms

• Fatigue and weakness: The child quickly tires, becomes sluggish and apathetic, refuses active games and classes.
• Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes: The skin and mucous membranes (for example, the inner surface of the eyelids, gums) become pale.
• Shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat: A child can experience shortness of breath even with slight physical exertion.
• Dizziness and headaches: A child can complain of dizziness and headaches.
• Irritability and moodiness: The child becomes irritable, capricious and tearful.
• Reduced appetite: The child loses interest in food and refuses to eat.
• Delay of growth and development: A child can lag behind in growth and development compared to peers.
• Reduced immunity: A child often suffers from colds and other infections.

II.B. Specific signs and symptoms in infants and young children

• Delay in psychomotor development: The child can later start to turn over, sit, crawl and walk.
• Poor appetite and food problems: A child can refuse breast milk or mixture, poorly gain in weight.
• Irritability and tearfulness: The child often cries for no apparent reason.
• Restless dream: The child sleeps poorly, often wakes up at night.
• Food preferences (Picacism): Desire is inedible objects, such as clay, chalk, paper, ice. This is one of the most specific signs of iron deficiency, especially in children older than a year.
• “Porcelain” pallor of the skin: Especially noticeable on the face, lips and nail bed.

II.C. Specific features and symptoms in older children and adolescents

• Reducing academic performance at school: The child experiences difficulties with concentration, memorizing information and completing tasks.
• Memory deterioration: The child forgets important things and experiences difficulties in learning.
• Headaches and dizziness: The child often complains of headaches and dizziness, especially after physical exertion.
• Irritability and depression: The child becomes irritable, depressed and apathetic.
• Weakness and fatigue: The child quickly tires, experiences weakness and lack of energy.
• Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes: The skin and mucous membranes become pale.
• Fitty nails and hair: The nails become brittle and lay down, the hair fades and falls out.
• Inflammation of the tongue (glossitis): The tongue becomes smooth and red.
• Cracks in the corners of the mouth (angular stomatitis): Painful cracks appear in the corners of the mouth.
• Restless legs syndrome: Unpleasant sensations in the legs that make them constantly move them, especially at night.

II.D. Specific manifestations of iron deficiency anemia

With the progression of iron deficiency, iron deficiency develops anemia, which is characterized by more pronounced symptoms:

• Severe pallor of the skin and mucous membranes.
• Shortness of breath is even at rest.
• Far heartbeat (tachycardia).
• Noise in the heart.
• Increase in the liver and spleen (hepatoplanemagalia).
• Delayed growth and development.
• Reducing immunity and frequent infectious diseases.
• Violations of the nervous system (irritability, headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbance).

III. Causes of iron deficiency in children

Iron deficiency in children can be caused by various factors, including insufficient consumption of iron with food, violation of iron absorption, increased need for gland during periods of active growth and development, as well as blood loss.

III.A. Insufficient consumption of iron with food

The main cause of iron deficiency in children is insufficient consumption of iron with food. This is especially true for young children and young children who receive the main food from breast milk or dairy mixtures.

• Breast milk: Breast milk is perfect food for infants, but the content of iron in it is relatively small. Babs on breastfeeding need an additional source of iron, especially after 6 months.
• Dairy mixtures: Some milk mixtures contain an insufficient amount of iron. It is important to choose milk mixtures enriched with iron.
• Unstable nutrition: Children who feed on monotonously and do not receive a sufficient number of products rich in iron are at risk of developing iron deficiency. Such products include meat, fish, poultry, legumes, dark green vegetables and iron enriched with iron.
• Excessive consumption of cow’s milk: Cow milk contains little iron and can prevent its absorption. Excessive use of cow’s milk, especially at an early age, can contribute to the development of iron deficiency.

III.B. Violation of iron absorption

The absorption of iron in the intestines is a complex process that can be violated by various factors:

• Inflammatory intestinal diseases: Chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases, such as the disease of the crown and ulcerative colitis, can disrupt the absorption of iron.
• Celiacia: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which glutenic use leads to damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine and impaired suction of nutrients, including iron.
• Infectious diseases of the intestine: Some infectious diseases of the intestine can temporarily disrupt the absorption of iron.
• Taking some drugs: Some drugs, such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors, can reduce iron absorption.
• Iron interaction with other substances in food: Some substances contained in food can prevent iron absorption. These include phytats (contained in grain and legumes), tannins (contained in tea and coffee) and calcium. The use of these substances, along with products rich in iron, can reduce its absorption.

III.C. Increased gland

During periods of active growth and development, the need for iron increases. This is especially true for:

• Babies and young children: Babs and young children grow quickly and develop, so they need a large amount of iron.
• Teenagers: During puberty, the need for iron increases due to an increase in blood and muscle volume. In teenage girls, an additional need for iron is associated with menstrual blood loss.
• Premature children: Premature children have low iron reserves and need additional iron.
• Children with chronic diseases: Children with chronic diseases, such as diseases of the kidneys, heart and lungs, can have an increased need for gland.

III.D. Blood loss

Blood loss, even insignificant, can lead to iron deficiency.

• Menstrual blood loss: In teenage girls, menstrual blood loss is one of the main causes of iron deficiency.
• Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract: Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract can be caused by various causes, such as peptic ulcer, intestinal polyps and inflammatory diseases of the intestine.
• Frequent nasal bleeding: Frequent nasal bleeding can lead to minor, but regular blood loss.
• Parasitic invasions: Some parasitic invasions, such as ankylostomosis, can cause blood loss in the intestine.

IV. Diagnosis of iron deficiency in children

Diagnosis of iron deficiency in children includes a history of anamnesis, physicine examination and laboratory tests.

IV.A. Anamnesis

The doctor collects an anamnesis to find out the risk factors for the development of iron deficiency in a child, such as:

• The age of the child.
• The nature of the nutrition (breastfeeding, milk mixtures, complementary foods, diet).
• The presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
• The presence of blood loss.
• The presence of chronic diseases.
• The presence of cases of iron deficiency anemia in the family.

IV.B. Physical examination

The doctor conducts a physical examination to evaluate the general condition of the child and identify signs of iron deficiency, such as:

• Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes.
• Increase in the liver and spleen.
• Noise in the heart.
• Inflammation of the tongue.
• Cracks in the corners of the mouth.

IV.C. Laboratory research

To confirm the diagnosis of iron deficiency and determine its severity, laboratory studies are carried out:

• General blood test: The level of hemoglobin, red blood cells, hematocrit and other blood indicators is determined. Reducing the level of hemoglobin is the main sign of iron deficiency anemia.
• Determination of the level of serum iron: The level of iron in the blood serum is determined. A decrease in the level of serum iron indicates a deficiency of iron.
• Determination of the total iron -binding capacity of serum (OHSSS): The ability of blood serum is determined to bind iron. With a deficiency of iron OZHSS, it is usually increased.
• Determining the level of ferritin: Ferritin is a protein that storages iron in the body. Determining the level of ferritin is the most accurate way to evaluate iron reserves in the body. A decrease in the level of ferritin indicates an iron deficiency.
• Determining the level of transferrin: Transferrin – protein that transfers iron in the blood. Determining the level of transferrin can help in the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
• Hidden blood analysis: It is carried out to detect hidden bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.

IV.D. Additional research

In some cases, additional studies may be required to identify the cause of iron deficiency, such as:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS): Endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to detect ulcers, polyps and other diseases.
• Colonoscopy: Endoscopic examination of the colon to detect polyps, inflammatory diseases and other diseases.
• Analysis of feces for parasites: It is carried out to identify parasitic invasions.

V. Treatment of iron deficiency in children

Treatment of iron deficiency in children includes a change in the diet, taking iron drugs and, in some cases, treatment of the underlying disease that caused iron deficiency.

Va change of nutrition

Changing the diet is an important component of treatment of iron deficiency. It is necessary to include in the diet products rich in iron:

• Meat: Govodina, veal, pork.
• Bird: Chicken, turkey.
• Fish: Sea fish, cod liver.
• Legumes: Beans, lentils, peas.
• Dark green vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, leaf cabbage.
• Ground -enriched with iron: Kashi, bread.

To improve iron absorption, it is recommended to consume products rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, pepper), along with products rich in iron. The use of products containing phitat (grain and legumes), tannins (tea and coffee) and calcium, along with products rich in iron, should be avoided.

VB iron preparations

With a pronounced iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, iron preparations are prescribed. Iron preparations are produced in various forms:

• Liquid iron preparations (drops, syrups): Convenient for use in babies and young children.
• Iron tablets: Suitable for older children and adolescents.
• Iron intramuscularly: It is administered only in severe cases when taking iron drugs is impossible or ineffective.

The dose and duration of iron preparations are determined by the doctor individually depending on the age of the child, the severity of iron deficiency and the tolerance of the drug. Iron preparations should be taken between meals to improve their absorption. During taking iron preparations, stools can be stained in dark color.

VC Treatment of the underlying disease

If iron deficiency is caused by any disease, the underlying disease is necessary. For example, with bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to detect and eliminate the cause of bleeding. With celiac disease, a glutenic diet must be observed.

VI. Prevention of iron deficiency in children

Prevention of iron deficiency in children includes ensuring adequate iron consumption with food, timely detection and treatment of diseases that can lead to iron deficiency, and regular examination of children under risk.

VI.A. Prevention of iron deficiency in infants and young children

• Breast-feeding: Breast milk is the best food for babies, but after 6 months it is necessary to introduce complementary foods enriched with iron.
• Milk mixes enriched with iron: If breastfeeding is impossible, it is necessary to use milk mixtures enriched with iron.
• Timely introduction of complementary foods: Lower foods should be administered at the age of 6 months. The first complementary foods should be products rich in iron, such as meat puree, vegetable puree with the addition of meat and porridge enriched with iron.
• Limiting the use of cow’s milk: Cow milk should not be given to children up to a year. After a year, the amount of cow’s milk should be limited to 500 ml per day.
• Iron additives: Hardly disgusting children and children with a low weight at birth are recommended to give iron additives.

Vi.b. Prevention of iron deficiency in older children and adolescents

• Balanced nutrition: It is necessary to provide a balanced diet rich in iron. The diet should include meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dark green vegetables and iron enriched with iron.
• The use of products rich in vitamin C: It is recommended to consume products rich in vitamin C, along with products rich in iron, to improve its absorption.
• Limiting the use of products that prevent iron absorption: The use of products containing phitat, tannins and calcium should be avoided, along with products rich in iron.
• Regular medical examinations: Regular medical examinations will help identify iron deficiency in the early stages.

VI.C. Regular iron monitoring

Children at risk on the development of iron deficiency are recommended to regularly take blood tests to control the level of iron. The risk group includes:

• Babs on breastfeeding after 6 months.
• Premature children.
• Children with low birth weight.
• Children with chronic diseases.
• Teenage girls with abundant menstruation.
• Children observing a vegetarian or vegan diet.

VII. Заключение (Note: As instructed, this section is not included, but would typically summarize the key takeaways of the article.)