Question
My son has been diagnosed with iron deficiency and heart problems. What should I do?
Answer
This is due to the child’s congenital deficiency of trace elements. When the body lacks a certain element, it can affect the absorption of other nutrients. For iron deficiency, it is recommended to supplement through food, such as eating more animal foods rich in iron, like lean meat, pork liver, and egg yolks; for infants, breast milk feeding is best, as breast milk contains more iron that is easier to absorb. If the condition is severe, medication treatment may be required, and you can give your child zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate. Additionally, the mother can increase the zinc content in breast milk by consuming foods rich in zinc.