Anaemia in Children

When the hemoglobin or the number of red blood cells in the body is decreased below normal, it is referred to anemia. This decrease is may be either because of low production in the body, or more destruction by the body or when the body is unable to make and maintain the average count of a red blood cell. This lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin causes a reduced oxygen flow in the body which causes stress. The hemoglobin is an important protein of red blood cells that carry oxygen and delivers it throughout the body. The muscles and organs in the body need oxygen to grow and survive poor oxygen demand over-emphasis the body. The child looks pale, weak, feels tired, irritable and cranky. It is a common condition among children. The first year of life and adolescence is rapid growth and development. In these two essential stages of life, a child is to most prone to anemia. During this time of life, a parent should be aware of the symptoms and how to prevent it.

Signs and symptoms of anemia in children:

• The symptoms of anemia are due to the deficiency of oxygen.
• Paleness of skin, cheeks, lips
• Spoon shaped nails
• Glossy tongue with angular stomatitis
• Irritability
• Palpitations and increased heart rate
• Lethargy
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Irregular menses, absent or delayed menses
• Dizziness
• Cramps in legs
• Restless leg syndrome
• Dark-colored urine and stool
• Delayed growth and development
• Splenomegaly
• Hepatomegaly
• Low immunity
• Poor wound and tissue healing.
• Children experiencing red cell destruction also suffer from jaundice yellowing of eyes, skin, and tongue

Complications:

• Poor growth and development
• Pain and swelling in joints
• Bone marrow disease
• Leukemia or other cancers

Causes of anemia:

• Decreased number of red blood cells due to low production
• The inability of the body to make enough red blood cells
• Destruction of red blood cells

A decrease in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin levels may be due to:

• Inherited red blood cell defects.
• Infections.
• Underlying diseases.
• Certain medication.
• Deficient diet in iron, vitamins, and minerals.
• Injury or trauma: The most obvious cause of blood loss is bleeding due to trauma or injury.

Types of anemia:

• Iron deficiency anemia: Inadequate dietary intake i.e., consumption of a diet low in iron cause's anemia. Nutrition deficiency can cause anemia. The body does not produce enough RBCs. The major of all causes is an iron deficiency that causes anemia among children.
• Anemia of chronic diseases: A massive destruction of red blood cells in chronic diseases because of infection, inflammation, or cancer. The body is left with fewer red cells than normal. Some conditions associated with anemia of chronic disease are celiac disease, SLE, ulcerative colitis, Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Anemia of inherited diseases: The anemia is caused by impaired production of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the body, for example, sickle cell anemia. In this type of hemoglobinopathy, the red blood cells are abnormally shaped. Another example of the inherited type of anemia is Cooley's anemia (thalassemia).
• Aplastic anemia: This type of anemia relates to bone marrow disease. It develops when the bone marrow fails to produce new blood cells.
• Hemolytic anemia: It develops due to abnormal hemolysis i.e., destruction of red blood cells in the vessels or elsewhere in the body. It may be caused by different illnesses, infections, and medications.
• Megaloblastic anemia: It is caused by the lack or deficiency of vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) or vitamin B9 (Folate) in the diet. The bone marrow produces structurally large, abnormal unhealthy red cells. The number of red cells are lower than normal. Due to deficiency of intrinsic factors in the stomach, the body is not able anemia).

Risk factors for anemia in children include:

• Preterm delivery or low birth weight.
• Poor living standards.
• Children on formula milk or early use of cow’s milk.
• Deficient diet in iron, vitamins or minerals.
• Surgery or accident with blood loss.
• Chronic illnesses, infections, or kidney or liver disease.
• Hereditary conditions with a family history of anemia, like sickle cell anemia.

Diagnosis of anemia in children requires the following blood tests:

• Anemia is a very common condition among similar symptoms of other health issues and blood disorders in children, therefore, it requires screening. The following blood tests help to differentiate anemia from other similar diseases.
• Hemoglobin and hematocrit: To measure the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood.
• Complete blood count (CBC). It is a more detailed test of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and reticulocytes.
• Peripheral smear, Serum iron levels, serum ferritin levels, and TIBC.

Preventive measures that should be kept in mind by every parent:

• Mother should exclusively breastfeed the infant until at least 4 months of age. Iron supplements should be given after 4 months of age breastfed babies until they start eating complementary foods rich in iron.
• To formula-fed babies better to give the iron added baby formula.
• Do not give cow's milk until the baby is over 12 months old. After 12 months of age, avoid giving more than 2 cups/day of whole cow's milk to the baby as milk is low in iron. Milk makes you feel full, thus decreases the intake of other iron-rich foods.
• Older children should be fed with a well-balanced diet with foods that contain iron, vitamins, and minerals.
• A diet that includes grains, cereals and other foods filled with iron like red meat, egg yolks, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, molasses, and raisins.
• Encourage the children to eat citrus fruits that contain a surplus amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary to increase the body's absorption of iron.
• Add vitamin D and iron supplements to the diet of children showing mild symptoms of anemia.
• PICCA (pronounced pie-Kuh): It occurs in children with iron deficiency anemia. The children attain a strange behavior of eating non-food things such as ice, dirt, clay, paper, cardboard, and cornstarch. This strange conduct is called "pica". Pica often causes constipation in children. The pica can be stopped by adding diet rich in iron supplements.

Treatment for anemia in children:

• Treatment depends on the following:
• Cause of the anemia
• Severity and nature of anemia
• The general health, age, and symptoms of the child.
• Some types of anemia do not require any treatment. Some may require adding supplements of iron and vitamins, medicine, blood transfusions, change in diet and lifestyle, surgery, or stem cell transplants.

Homeopathic Management for anemia in children:

Homeopathic mode of treatment is a very unique method of finding similimum. It requires to individualize the symptoms based on a thorough case study to find symptom picture of patient's physical and mental makeup. However, a therapeutic approach can also be considered in some cases requiring immediate quenching of symptoms.

AnekindTM tablets are found very effective and a good solution for the treatment of anemia in children. It helps in better absorption of iron and vitamins along with the production and maintenance of hemoglobin in the body. AnekindTM is salutary in recuperation after exhausting diseases. It helps to strengthen the immune system apart from stimulating the production of healthy red blood cells. This medicine is impressive in the treatment of anemia in children. It corrects the malfunctioning of the digestive system, enlarged spleen and controls weakness, irritability and torpidity due to anemia. It not only corrects anemia but also helps in regaining the immunity and fast recovery after long term illness. It is a good remedy for headache, pale face, angular stomatitis and gastrointestinal disturbances due to anemia. AnekindTM improves the appetite of the children suffering from 'the picca', It takes care of the children suffering from poor bodily growth and development.

Presentation: Bottle of AnekindTM contains 10g of globules.

Dosage: For adults 1 globule 3 times a day and for children 3 globules 3 times a day (It should be administered 15 minutes before every meal for better results).

Ingredients of AnekindTM:

• Ferrum metallicum 4x 50 mg
• Ceanothus americanus 4x 24 mg
• Secale cornutum 12x 10 mg
• Cinchona officinalis 8x 30 mg
• Ginkgo biloba 100x 12 mg
• Justicia adhatoda 4x 20 mg
• Ergotinum 4x 30 mg
• Nux Vomica 6x 24 mg
• Applied to globules 10 g

Side effects of AnekindTM: No side effects are certified.

Contra-indications of AnekindTM: No contra-indications for the use of AnekindTM are certified.

Interactions of AnekindTM: No interactions between AnekindTM and other medicines are certified.