Paediatrics Search

Paediatrics

Paediatrics

Home News Diseases Conferences Special Reports Multimedia

anemia%20-%20iron-deficiency%20(pediatric)

ANEMIA - IRON-DEFICIENCY (PEDIATRIC)

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency in children & reportedly 3x more common than iron-deficiency anemia, but does not always develop into anemia.

Neonates & children may have delayed growth & development; adolescents may show decrements of learning such as behavioral abnormalities.

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most advanced stage of iron deficiency resulted from a protracted imbalance between iron intake & demand.

Characterized by low hemoglobin & hematocrit levels, reduction or depletion of iron stores, low serum iron levels & decreased transferrin saturation.

Anemia%20-%20iron-deficiency%20(pediatric) Management

Management

Follow Up

There are no standard recommendations for follow up after starting iron therapy but patients who are in need of further medical attention may be referred to specialists
Referral is recommended if with disease progression or if with unresponsiveness to treatment
- Obtain complete blood count (CBC) every 3 months for 1 year
- Response to iron therapy is observed after weeks of treatment, should be asked to return for evaluation
- Reassessment of treatment plan is advised if without favorable response
- Consider referral to a hematologist for further investigation of the source of anemia
- Consider referral to a gastroenterologist for treatment of underlying gastrointestinal lesions or suspected cancer and evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding
Further follow-ups are not necessary if the patient is asymptomatic and the hematocrit level is normal
If hemoglobin and red blood cells (RBC) indices remain normal, one additional CBC should be obtained 12 months later

Immunotherapy sparks hope for paediatric ALL

Audrey Abella, 14 Oct 2020

Despite a 90-percent cure rate after first treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), approximately 10–15 percent of patients with paediatric ALL will experience relapse. [Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2017;17:725-736] A recent webinar on the current landscape of ALL highlighted the potential of immunotherapy for paediatric patients with relapsed or refractory ALL, thus providing hope for this high-risk patient group.

Product Highlight - Bilaxten ODT

16 Mar 2022

Bilastine 10 mg orodispersible tablet

A Guide on Primary Immunodeficiency Disease and Allergies

05 Feb 2021

Primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) and allergies are two groups of conditions related to the immune system. However, they are uniquely different in terms of symptoms and treatment.