Question
Why might a 4-year-old child who doesn’t usually be picky with food be found to have anemia during a physical examination?
Answer
The main causes of pediatric anemia are as follows:
- Increased physiological iron demand: As children grow rapidly and gain weight, their blood volume also increases. If they do not consume more iron-rich foods, they are prone to developing iron deficiency anemia.
- Iron deficiency in diet: Children may develop iron deficiency anemia due to poor eating habits, refusal to eat, selective eating, or consuming too few animal foods.
- Chronic mild blood loss: Commonly seen in gastrointestinal bleeding, such as intestinal polyps, Meckel diverticulum, ulcerative colitis, hookworm disease, etc. Additionally, chronic diarrhea can affect iron absorption; during acute or chronic infections, the child’s appetite decreases and gastrointestinal absorption function is poor, which are also common causes of iron deficiency anemia in children.