Hi, this is Tom, and in this episode I'm going to be going through anemia in children.

And you can find notes at 0.0.5.com and in the 0 to Finals Pediatrics book.

And you can find flashcards and questions at members.0.0.com.

So let's jump straight in. Anemia is defined as a low

concentration of hemoglobin in the blood. This is the consequence of an underlying disease and not a

disease itself. Anne means without and emia refers to the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells.

Hemoglobin is responsible for picking up oxygen in the lungs and transporting it to the body's cells.

Iron is essential in producing hemoglobin and it forms part of its structure.

The normal ranges for hemoglobin in a child are determined by the local hematology lab,

depending on their age.

There's a natural dip in hemoglobin about six to eight weeks of age.

At birth, a typical range for hemoglobin would be 140 to 240 grams per liter. At one to two months, it would be 90 to 140

grams per liter. At six months to six years, it would be 110 to 140. At six to 12 years,

it would be 115 to 15 to 15. And in females over 12 years, it would be 120 to 155. And in males over 12 years, it would be 120 to 155. And in males over 12 years, it will be 130 to 170.

Let's talk about the causes of anemia in children.

The most common causes of anemia in children are iron deficiency anemia

secondary to dietary insufficiency, and blood loss, most

frequently from menstruation in adolescent girls. Less common causes of anemia and children

include sickle cell disease, thalassemia, leukemia, hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis,

cidoblastic anemia, and anemia of chronic disease.

Worldwide, a common cause of blood loss causing chronic anemia and iron deficiency is

Helmynth infection, particularly with hookworms. This is common in low and middle income settings.

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