After becoming a pediatric hematologist, one of the issues I care about most is "IRON DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN". We must accept IRON DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN as a public health problem. Because iron deficiency is very common in children (up to 60-70% in some age groups). Its most important harm is that it negatively affects the intelligence development of children. It has been shown in scientific studies that IRON DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN can reduce the intelligence score by 3-5 points. When we think that the future of a country depends on children, the importance of the issue becomes clear. The good thing is that iron deficiency is very easy to treat, as long as we make the diagnosis and follow up.
The most crucial part of the issue is that even MILD iron deficiency has a negative effect on intelligence development. While severe iron deficiency can be diagnosed with examination findings, it is not possible to diagnose MILD iron deficiency during examination. However, it can be detected through blood tests. In light of this information, I request blood tests for iron status from the children I follow once a year. The younger the child, the greater the damage caused by iron deficiency, because brain development is very rapid, especially in the first 4 years of age, and continues until the age of 19. Every year a child spends with iron deficiency negatively affects his development, and unfortunately, there is no way to make up for these lost years in the future.
Blood tests related to iron status; I recommend that it be done once a year, starting from the 6th month until the age of 19, even if our child has no complaints. Since normal values vary in each age group, it would be appropriate for the results of blood tests regarding iron status to be evaluated by a pediatric hematologist as an expert. Preferably, it would be better to do it before school around the beginning of September because it is not possible to expect a child who goes to school with iron deficiency to be successful in school. Similar situations apply to vitamin B12 deficiency. I think I will talk about this issue in a separate article.
THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN IS OUR HAPPINESS
STAY HEALTHY
Read: 0
