Question
The child has iron deficiency anemia, is prone to waking up and having difficulty falling asleep, increased appetite, and the condition has been present for 3 months. Laboratory results show that the iron content in the microelement examination is 41.5. The child has previously taken ferrous citrate tablets supplied by Henan Innovation Pharmaceutical, but there was no improvement in appetite and sleep after taking them. The parents ask whether the medication could be the cause and how to select the appropriate iron supplement.
Answer
After taking ferrous citrate tablets, there was no improvement in appetite and sleep, which may be due to gastrointestinal discomfort caused by the medication. It is recommended to supplement iron, with options such as ferrous gluconate, which typically requires a treatment course of 2 to 3 months. It is best to feed ferrous gluconate 1 to 2 hours before changing diapers to aid absorption; if the baby experiences gastrointestinal discomfort, feeding can be done after changing diapers to reduce discomfort. Iron supplementation may interfere with iron absorption, so regular re-examinations are necessary.