Question
My colleague and I have babies born in the same month. The baby is very cute. I heard that my colleague’s baby has anemia. I’m afraid my baby might have it too. What are the diagnosis criteria for neonatal anemia?
Answer
The diagnosis criteria for neonatal anemia refer to a venous hemoglobin (Hb) level below 130g/L (13g/dl) or capillary Hb of 145g/L (14.5g/dl) within the first 2 weeks after birth. Anemia in infants is a common symptom during early childhood. Chronic anemia can affect heart function and intellectual development. Most cases of infantile anemia are caused by malnutrition. Anemic children may exhibit symptoms such as pale or yellowish complexion, fatigue, and low resistance to diseases. Nutritional anemia can be categorized into nutritional microcytic (iron-deficiency) anemia and nutritional macrocytic (deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid) anemia.