Question
What should be done if a 19-month-old baby has low ferritin levels?
Answer
Iron deficiency primarily occurs when there is an increased demand for iron but a relative shortage in supply, such as in pregnant or lactating women, and in infants and young children during periods of growth and development. Reduced iron absorption can occur in individuals with insufficient stomach acid or those who have had a partial gastrectomy. Excessive iron loss can also occur due to chronic and recurrent bleeding, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, ulcer bleeding, hemorrhoids, and hookworm infection, which can depletion the body’s iron reserves and lead to iron deficiency anemia. Blood tests, in addition to showing a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin levels, can also observe that the red blood cells are smaller than normal and have a lighter stain (due to lower hemoglobin content within the red blood cells), along with reduced serum iron, serum ferritin levels, and decreased iron stores in the bone marrow.