Anemia is a disease in which the number of red blood cells in the blood are reduced. This results in reduced oxygen flow to the organs. If the condition is diagnosed in a child, it can make them look pale. Children suffering from anemia also feel cranky, tired, and weak. In the majority of cases, the disease is mild and can be treated easily except the ones that are not diagnosed and treated properly. Parents must take preventive steps because this condition is generally common in the first year of a child’s life and then may recur or show up in adolescence.

Each child may experience different symptoms that may include but are not limited to the following:

• Pale color of skin
• Increase in the heart rate
• Dizziness and headache
• Jaundice
• Slow body growth
• Lack of energy
• Difficulty in catching breath or wheezing

It is better to consult a pediatrician if your child shows any of these signs.

The main types of anemia in children
According to medical research so far, there are more than four hundred types of anemia. Anemia comes in many forms and the following are some of the main types of anemia:

Iron deficiency anemia
It is the most common one from the main types of anemia found in children. As the name implies, it is due to insufficient iron in the child’s body because enough hemoglobin is not being produced. It is mainly caused because of blood loss or lack of iron in your child’s diet or the inability to absorb iron. Symptoms are paleness or yellowish skin color. This is generally easy to treat when detected early. Doctors recommend various tests and provide iron supplements to treat underlying causes of iron deficiency.

Megaloblastic anemia
In this main type of anemia, the red blood cells in the body of the child fall to a number lower than normal. The body does not produce enough red blood cells resulting in an inadequate supply of oxygen to tissues and organs. This is mainly caused when there is a deficiency of vitamin B-12 or folate as these two are necessary for producing healthy red blood cells. If you do feel that your child may suffer from this, it is advisable to consult a doctor. They will check the number and appearance of red blood cells and gather medical history. They may conduct a physical exam of your child to rule out other causes. For this, blood tests are done and conditions causing the deficiency are examined.

Hemolytic anemia
This is caused because of the destruction of red blood cells in the bone marrow. If causes of hemolytic anemia are temporary, then it is easily curable. Each child experiences different signs and symptoms depending upon their blood group. Symptoms of this type are mainly fever, enlarged liver, dark urine, pale color, feeling fatigued among a few others. The chances of this anemia occurring in children increase significantly after a viral illness. Doctors diagnose this after conducting various other tests along with a blood test.

If you ever notice such symptoms in your child, it is advisable to rush to a pediatrician and follow their advice while administering proper medications and diet. With treatments, all main types of anemia can be cured. You should always take preventive actions for your child so that anemia doesn’t occur in the first place.