Not only adults, babies can also experience anemia, you know. This condition should not be allowed because it can inhibit growth and development. Then, how do you know if your baby has anemia, what causes it, and how to treat it? Check out the following explanation.
Anemia is a condition in which the levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells are below the normal range. The same understanding also applies to anemia in infants. One of the most common types of anemia experienced by infants is iron deficiency anemia.
Some of the symptoms that can appear when a baby has anemia are his skin looks pale, the baby looks lethargic and not excited, his appetite decreases, and his growth and development slows down.
Main Causes of Anemia in Babies
Anemia in infants can not be taken lightly. If not treated immediately, anemia can interfere with the growth and development of the baby. There are several mechanisms that cause anemia in infants, namely:
Insufficient production of red blood cells
Most babies are anemic in the first few months after birth. This is normal and is known as physiological anemia. This type of anemia occurs because the baby is growing rapidly, so the body needs time to catch up with the production of red blood cells until the number is adequate.
Losing a lot of blood
Heavy blood loss in infants is usually caused by bleeding. Bleeding that is generally experienced by infants is due to the routine blood collection process while the baby is receiving medical care or due to damage to internal organs, such as bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Blood cells are damaged quickly
Anemia in infants caused by blood cell damage generally occurs when the baby has ABO incompatibility, which is an incompatibility of the baby's blood with the mother, or if the baby has sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.
How to Treat Anemia in Babies
Treatment of anemia in infants will be adjusted to the underlying cause. If anemia is caused by bleeding, then the treatment is to stop the bleeding and replace the lost blood through blood transfusions.
If the cause of anemia is iron deficiency, then the treatment is by:
Feeding high iron foods
The doctor will suggest that the baby is given a variety of foods that are rich in iron, such as meat, eggs, beans, broccoli, spinach, and cereals that are fortified with iron. However, this treatment is only given to babies who are over 6 months old or who are already consuming solid food.
Administration of iron supplements
If needed, the doctor will also prescribe iron supplements in the form of drops. Because it tastes bad and smells a bit, doctors will usually recommend mixing this supplement into baby food or drinks.
Anemia in infants needs to be recognized as early as possible and should not be allowed to drag on, because it can interfere with the baby's growth and development. To monitor the health condition and growth of your little one, you need to regularly check with the doctor or the posyandu.
