Anemia
Anemia is a common problem in children. About 20% of children in the INDIA will be diagnosed with anemia at some point. A child who has anemia does not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a type of protein that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen to other cells in the body.
There are many types of anemia. Your child may have 1 of these:
- Iron deficiency anemia.This is not enough iron in the blood. Iron is needed to form hemoglobin. This is the most common cause of anemia.
- Megaloblastic anemia.This is when red blood cells are too large from a lack of folic acid or vitamin B-12. One type of megaloblastic anemia is pernicious anemia. In this type, there is a problem absorbing vitamin B-12, important to making red blood cells.
- Hemolytic anemia.This is when red blood cells are destroyed. There are many different causes, such as serious infections or certain medicines.
- Sickle cell anemia.This is a type of hemoglobinopathy, an inherited type of anemia with abnormally-shaped red blood cells.
- Cooley's anemia (thalassemia). This is another inherited type of anemia with abnormal red blood cells.
- Aplastic anemia.This is failure of the bone marrow to make blood cells.