My child has low hemoglobin, what should I do? Low hemoglobin in a child: what to do and how to increase it. Hemoglobin norms in children: where is high, where is low

This is a protein that contains iron. It carries oxygen to cells from the alveoli of the lungs throughout the human body. This is a very important element of blood. You can find out the amount of this component in the body using clinical tests. Blood is taken from a finger in both adults and children.

Anemia - low hemoglobin in a blood test

Many parents ask why their child has very low hemoglobin? A decrease in hemoglobin in children can occur at any age. The causes of pathology also depend on it.

When a baby loses a large amount of blood during birth, his hemoglobin level decreases significantly. Large blood loss in a newborn is observed with premature placental abruption or rupture of the umbilical cord.

If the decay intensifies in a child, this leads to a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin. The baby's bone marrow is underdeveloped, so it cannot fully produce new proteins. This most often occurs in premature babies, who are 1-2 months old. With the development of hemolytic disease of newborns in children, an increase in the breakdown of hemoglobin is observed.

Anemia in newborns occurs as a result of a hereditary disease - spherocytosis.

With the development of this disease, red blood cells have a spherical shape, which leads to the breakdown of hemoglobin.

A baby’s red blood cells disintegrate very quickly due to:herpes simplex, to swelling and iphilis. Data arise in the baby as a result of their transmission from the mother. Very often, children are born with normal hemoglobin levels. If they receive low amounts of iron through food, this will lead to a decrease in hemoglobin levels.

In children aged 3 to 15 years, hemoglobin decreases for completely different reasons:

• The most common reason for its decline is the child’s poor nutrition. That is why the child should eat not only foods that are saturated with iron, but also vitamins for the high-quality absorption of this iron.
• Red blood cells in children are poorly produced even if folic acid enters their body in insufficient quantities. The reason for this is a lack of vegetables during the period of active growth of the child.
• A lack of hemoglobin in the baby’s body can occur as a result of bleeding. In girls, the first menstruation leads to a decrease in hemoglobin.
• A sedentary lifestyle and inactivity of a child can lead to a decrease in his hemoglobin.
• may occur as a result of taking medications without the supervision of a doctor.

The amount of methemoglobin in the baby’s body can be reduced for various reasons. In most cases, the appearance of this problem is influenced by the baby’s lifestyle and nutrition.

Symptoms

Initially, a decrease in hemoglobin levels is almost impossible to notice, since it does not appear at all.

This develops in two stages:

1. If the baby’s hemoglobin level is in the range of 100-80 g/l, then this is the first stage. In some cases, the child has pale mucous membranes and facial skin.
2. The second stage of the disease is characterized by more pronounced. When it develops in a child, the amount of hemoglobin is less than 80 g/l. At the same time, the child gets tired very quickly. He becomes lethargic. Very often children complain of dizziness. With a decrease in the amount of methemoglobin, some organs are characterized by a decrease in performance. In order to provide oxygen to the tissues, the baby’s heart works much faster, as it pumps blood through itself in large volumes. This kind of work weakens him.

The development of this disease significantly reduces the immune system, which significantly increases the risk of developing infectious diseases.

A decrease in quantity very often manifests itself in the form of shortness of breath.

With this pathological condition, the child complains of tinnitus. This disease is very often accompanied by a lack of appetite. The baby’s taste also changes. He may want to eat dirt or chalk. A decrease in hemoglobin levels leads to digestive disorders - constipation or diarrhea. The baby's nails and hair become brittle. When the amount of methemoglobin decreases in children, cracks appear in the corners of the mouth. The child's skin becomes dry and begins to peel.

A decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood has a fairly large number of symptoms. This is a fairly serious pathology that requires timely treatment. When initial symptoms of the disease appear, you should definitely seek help from a doctor.

Most often, hemoglobin is increased with the help of food, but the use of most of them for infants is strictly prohibited. The selection of methods for increasing hemoglobin depends on what provoked this pathological condition.

If during childbirth there was a loss in the child, which led to a decrease in hemoglobin levels, then the child will necessarily require a blood transfusion. If they are destroyed excessively, then this requires an exchange transfusion, which is carried out repeatedly. Initially, the child’s own blood is used for this purpose, and after a few days, donor blood is used.

Using this procedure, it is possible to eliminate maternal and red blood cells from the baby’s body, which will lead to an increase in the amount of methemoglobin. If there is a need for direct treatment of this disease, the use of glandular preparations is required. If the baby has serious symptoms of the disease, this requires a blood transfusion.

If a baby experiences a decrease in hemoglobin levels, this requires a correction in the diet of nursing mothers.

They need to eat foods that contain large quantities of iron. Once complementary foods are introduced to the child, raising hemoglobin levels will be much easier. The baby will be able to independently obtain hemoglobin from food.

To avoid a decrease in hemoglobin in a baby, the mother needs to take care of his health in the womb. She must register in a timely manner and donate blood regularly. If her hemoglobin decreases, it is necessary for a pregnant woman to start treatment in a timely manner. If a child has infectious or intestinal diseases, it is necessary to promptly treat them.Treatment of low hemoglobin levels in children should be carried out only in medical centers under the strict supervision of a doctor. Otherwise, it may negatively affect the baby's health.

Ways to increase hemoglobin in children

Methods for raising hemoglobin in children can be varied. They directly depend on the causes of occurrence. If hemoglobin levels are from 110 to 100 g/l, then the amount of hemoglobin can be increased by adjusting the baby’s diet. This will lead to an increase in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The child must be given meat to eat. It should be combined with vegetables, which will have a beneficial effect on increasing the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

If hemoglobin levels increase, the baby should be given ascorbic acid. The period of increased hemoglobin requires the exclusion of gingitis. This is explained by the fact that when a child brushes his teeth, blood may be lost, which is very undesirable during this period. After the baby’s nutrition has been adjusted, a repeat test is required. If there is no improvement, the patient is prescribed appropriate medications.

If a small patient's hemoglobin is in the range of 100-90 g/l, then he needs to take medications that contain iron.

To avoid complications, the choice of medications should be made as responsibly as possible. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the age characteristics of the small patient. Most often, ferric iron, which is included in the tablets, is used to increase hemoglobin in children. These medications should be taken for a month.

After this time, it is necessary to carry out. If a child's hemoglobin increases, then he needs to continue taking the drug for a month. Treatment of young patients should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Video. Anemia in children.

When there is a minor decrease in hemoglobin, certain foods are most often used that have a beneficial effect on the child’s condition:

• Every day you need to give your baby white meat from chicken, liver, kidneys, heart or tongue.
• From fruits, the child should be given persimmons, green and red apples, quince, bananas, apricots, dried apricots, plums.
• From legumes, the child needs to eat peas, beans, and lentils.
• To stabilize hemoglobin, a child needs buckwheat, oatmeal and rye.
• Potatoes that are boiled in their jackets or baked in the oven have a very good effect on a child’s body.
• To increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, children are recommended to eat beets, onions, pumpkin, and a variety of greens.
• The child also needs to eat berries. It would be best to give preference to strawberries, blueberries and black currants. They must be given in the form of compotes, jelly, and fruit drinks.
• You can increase your hemoglobin level with red caviar.
• Dried fruits are very useful in this case.

If the child’s hemoglobin is in the range from 60 to 90 g/l, then the baby’s treatment is carried out depending on his general condition. children are administered by intramuscular injection. In some cases, children are given iron solutions by mouth. Hemoglobin levels should be monitored every 10 days. In this case, treating the child yourself is strictly prohibited.

If a child’s hemoglobin drops below 60 g/l, then he needs an emergency transfusion of red blood cells.

This is explained by the fact that a drop in red blood cells to this level is a direct threat to the child’s life. This condition, first of all, negatively affects the human brain.

Regardless of the child’s hemoglobin levels, treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. Parents must remember that rational treatment should consist not only of taking medications, but also of regularly taking tests and correcting the baby’s condition.

If a child’s blood test shows deviations from the norm, this always causes concern. Most often, in childhood, changes in hemoglobin levels are detected, in particular, its decrease. What does a decrease in hemoglobin affect, why a low level is dangerous and how to help a child - these questions are important for any parent.

What hemoglobin is considered low in children?

Hemoglobin is a blood protein found in red blood cells. It contains iron, so due to lack of iron, the formation of such protein is impaired. The main function of this protein is the transport of oxygen throughout the child’s body. Hemoglobin gives oxygen to tissues and takes carbon dioxide from them, which it transfers to the lungs.

To assess whether a child’s hemoglobin is normal or low, you should take into account the baby’s age, because this indicator will be different for a newly born child, at 1 year, at 2 years, or at 10 years. In newborns, the level of this protein is higher, and from the second week of life it gradually decreases. And therefore, an indicator, for example, 110 g/l, for a 1-year-old child will be within the normal range, but for a baby in the first months of life it will be dangerous anemia.

The following dosages are considered the lower limit of normal hemoglobin levels in children.

Why does hemoglobin decrease in children?

The most common cause of low hemoglobin in childhood is anemia, which is caused by iron deficiency. The famous pediatrician Komarovsky agrees with this. Iron deficiency in infancy is caused by anemia in the mother, untimely introduction of complementary foods and low physical activity of the baby. At an older age, iron deficiency is often associated with the child’s diet, for example, if he has a vegetarian diet.

Watch the episode of Dr. Komarovsky’s program dedicated to the problem of low hemoglobin in children in the following video.

In addition to iron deficiency anemia, a decrease in hemoglobin in children may be a sign of:

• hemolytic anemia, in which red blood cells are destroyed;
• anemia caused by a deficiency of B vitamins (in particular B12 and B9);
• acute bleeding, for example, due to injury or surgery;
• chronic bleeding, for example, with frequent nosebleeds or heavy periods in a teenage girl;
• Crohn's disease and other intestinal diseases;
• hemophilia and other blood diseases;
• infectious disease;
• helminthic infestation;
• taking certain medications;
• allergies;
• tumors.

Signs of decreased hemoglobin

Anemia in childhood manifests itself:

• pale skin;
• lethargy;
• rapid onset of fatigue;
• weakness;
• dizziness;
• monstrousness;
• changes in nails (white lines and spots appear on them);
• decreased appetite;
• worsening sleep;
• increased body temperature;
• bad mood;
• circles under the eyes;
• frequent viral infections;
• peeling and dry skin.

If you do not pay attention to such symptoms immediately, the child develops shortness of breath and tachycardia, apathy appears, attention and memory deteriorate, and developmental delay occurs.

What to do?

Having noticed the symptoms that occur with anemia in a child, you need to contact a pediatrician, who will refer the little patient for a clinical blood test. If low hemoglobin is detected in a baby during a routine examination, the child should have a repeat blood test to rule out an error in the laboratory. When the low level is confirmed, the pediatrician will further examine the child to determine the cause of anemia, as well as to select the correct treatment.

Consequences of anemia

If low hemoglobin is not detected in time or the situation is left to chance, this threatens the child with serious health problems. Lack of hemoglobin causes insufficient oxygen supply to all tissues of the child’s body, including brain tissue.

The consequences of prolonged hypoxia will be developmental delays and deterioration of the child’s brain activity, as well as disruption of the functioning of internal organs.

Treatment

The approach to treating a child with low hemoglobin should be comprehensive and be based on the reason for the decrease in this blood indicator.

• If a child has iron deficiency anemia, iron supplements are indicated. They should be prescribed by a pediatrician, selecting an age-appropriate dosage. You cannot give your child any iron supplements on your own. Babies with iron deficiency are usually prescribed medications that are taken orally. They are presented in drops or syrup, for example, in the preparations Aktiferrin, Ferrum Lek, Maltofer and Ferronal 35.
• If the cause of low hemoglobin is acute blood loss, the child may be given a blood transfusion. This procedure is also recommended for children with severe iron deficiency anemia.
• At the same time, the doctor will advise you to adjust the child’s diet., adding foods high in iron to it, which promotes the formation of hemoglobin in the body. Such products include meat (iron is absorbed from it much better than from any plant food), legumes, eggs, offal, cereals, pomegranates, berries, nuts and other products.
• Children with anemia are also advised to take long walks in the fresh air., since oxygen access stimulates the formation of red blood cells.

Parents should understand that it is impossible to treat anemia only by changing the child’s diet; adjusting the diet will only help supplement the treatment. Moreover, it should be remembered that iron supplements are completely neutralized by milk. Therefore, you should not take them with milk porridge, for example.

See the opinion of the famous children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky regarding diet during the treatment of anemia here.

Prevention

To prevent a decrease in hemoglobin in childhood, the following measures should be taken.

• During pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to undergo regular blood tests and take complex vitamins. If anemia is detected in a pregnant woman, treatment should be started in a timely manner so that the fetus can accumulate iron in the required amount before birth.
• It is important to breastfeed a newborn After all, iron is absorbed from human milk better than from any other food, even from a high-quality mixture enriched with iron. This is due to the presence of a special enzyme in breast milk called lactoferrin. By the way, this enzyme helps the baby absorb iron from complementary foods, so it is not recommended to stop breastfeeding while introducing new foods.
• Complementary feeding should be introduced to infants in a timely manner. Pediatricians' advice to introduce infants to new foods from the age of 6 months is also due to the fact that iron reserves in the baby's body are depleted by this age. When introducing complementary foods, it is important to take into account modern recommendations, since early introduction of cow's milk crumbs into the diet is considered by pediatricians to be a risk factor for the development of both anemia and rickets.

• The diet of preschool and school-age children should contain enough foods rich in proteins, iron and B vitamins. Such foods include chicken, beef, liver, apples, persimmons, blueberries, buckwheat, nuts, turkey, dried apricots and others. It is also important to provide your child with sufficient physical activity and daily exposure to fresh air.
• To timely identify the risk of anemia, the child should regularly undergo a clinical blood test. It is optimal to do such an examination once a year.

The level of hemoglobin in a child’s blood is not a constant value. It is important that it does not fall below the limit values. Sometimes test results raise many questions for parents. What to do if the baby’s hemoglobin is low? Is it possible to increase its level at home? What consequences can there be if nothing is done? We will tell you about all this in order.

The level of hemoglobin in a child's blood can constantly change

Normal hemoglobin levels

Hemoglobin (HGB) is a special blood protein whose molecules are found in red blood cells - erythrocytes. First, it’s worth finding out which HGB readings are normal. Our table shows the limit values ​​of this indicator, which depend on the age of the child.

HGB levels can fluctuate depending on how physically active your child is and their health. The amount of this protein is also affected by the baby’s nutrition and sleep quality. If a child does not receive enough vitamins, proteins, and microelements from his diet, moves little and does not go for a walk, his test results will be worse - hemoglobin will be underestimated.

Factors affecting HGB levels

Doctors call a decrease in HGB levels anemia or anemia. The reasons for this diagnosis can be different, they are divided into three main groups:

1. post-transfusion - if anemia occurs due to blood loss;
2. violation of the production of a sufficient number of red blood cells - erythrocytes;
3. due to the destruction of red blood cells.

The first group of patients usually have chronically low hemoglobin levels because blood loss occurs constantly. For example, during stomach bleeding, with hemorrhoids. Infants also sometimes fall into this group. Basically, this situation occurs when a baby up to one year old receives cow's milk. It has been proven that the molecules of this product are much larger than those of human milk. They get on the gastric mucosa and injure it. Red blood cells enter the intestines and are eliminated during bowel movements, causing HGB levels to drop.

The second cause of anemia - impaired production of red blood cells - can occur in different cases. We list the main ones:

• Most diagnoses of anemia are caused by a deficiency of some substance, most often iron. It is important that this microelement enters the body in sufficient quantities along with foods. It also happens that the patient has impaired absorption of iron in the small intestine, and this does not allow it to be absorbed at the proper level. A lack of vitamins B9 and B12 can also cause anemia.
• Another source of disruption in the production of red blood cells can be a malfunction of the bone marrow - hemoblastosis.

The destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) is the third culprit in persistent anemia. We list the possible causes of this condition:

• Genetic predisposition. A child can inherit diseases such as a disorder of the structure of red blood cells or the structure of the protein molecule - hemoglobin.
• Sometimes the immune system perceives its own red blood cells as foreign, which leads to their destruction. This can be a congenital disease, or occur after replacing heart valves or taking certain medications.

In addition to the reasons listed, there are other factors that can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin levels. For example, there are diseases, one of the symptoms of which may be low HGB:

• Gastrointestinal diseases. With certain problems with the gastrointestinal tract, iron deficiency sometimes occurs in the body. At the same time, a person can get enough of it by eating properly and nutritiously. The root of the problem is that this trace element, as well as vitamins and amino acids, can be poorly absorbed either in the stomach or intestines, due to gastritis or enteritis.
• Liver diseases. This organ, like the bone marrow, is directly involved in the processes of hematopoiesis. Liver problems often lead to low hemoglobin levels.

Signs of anemia

A simple blood test speaks eloquently about a decrease in hemoglobin (or anemia). However, you can suspect a similar condition in a person based on other symptoms. Signs of anemia that a person himself, as well as those around him, can notice:

• dizziness, weakness;
• fast fatiguability;
• shortness of breath with the slightest exertion - for example, as a result of climbing stairs;
• frequent headaches;
• tachycardia;
• decreased blood pressure;
• dry skin, mucous membranes.

If more than two of the listed signs are noted, it makes sense to take a finger prick blood test in order to identify possible anemia in time. A timely visit to a doctor will make it possible to quickly cope with the disease.

If this condition is not eliminated, more serious health problems can result. Lack of hemoglobin leads to oxygen starvation of tissues and organs. This can cause metabolic disorders and also lead to malfunctions of the central nervous system.

Methods for increasing hemoglobin

If the cause of a decrease in hemoglobin in a child is iron deficiency, the approach to treating this condition should be comprehensive. The pediatrician will recommend changing the child’s diet and also prescribe appropriate therapy. Let's look at the drugs that are usually prescribed for this diagnosis, and also tell you why it is worth reviewing the menu of a small patient.

Drugs prescribed for anemia

The most popular medications for increasing hemoglobin are preparations containing iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, manganese, copper, magnesium. Therapy is aimed not only at replenishing iron reserves in the body. Taking medications helps the liver accumulate this trace element in sufficient quantities. In this regard, treatment is designed for at least three months, during which the liver has time to replenish its iron reserves. The hemoglobin level can increase much earlier, which is not an indication for interrupting the course.

If treatment is required for an infant or preschool child, preference is given to drugs that need to be taken orally, without using tablets. Pediatricians often prescribe Maltofer, Ferrum Lek, Aktiferrin, Hemofer. All of them are available in the form of syrup or drops. For older children, the doctor may prescribe medicine in the form of chewable lozenges or tablets - Ferrum Lek, Tardiferon, Ferrogradument. They are well absorbed and approved for use by adolescents.

Preparations can be made on the basis of 2-valent or 3-valent iron. The first ones are recommended to be taken at least an hour before meals, since during the digestion of food the absorption of such drugs worsens. The latter are allowed to be taken without taking into account the time of breakfast or lunch.

All of the medications listed above do their job well. As a rule, within a month the child’s hemoglobin returns to normal (more details in the article:). In this regard, it is recommended to repeat the analysis no earlier than 30 days after the start of treatment. If therapy does not bring results, you should consult a pediatric hematologist - Dr. Komarovsky warns about this.

What parents should remember

The diagnosis of anemia is not always made by a blood test that reveals a low level of hemoglobin (see also:). Sometimes such a test result is obtained due to improper collection of material for analysis, or when other factors were present. For example, if the test was taken after breakfast, this protein in the blood will be reduced. Often the doctor asks for a repeat test or recommends other tests. The diagnosis of anemia must be confirmed by a specialist, and a course of treatment prescribed taking into account all associated symptoms and diseases. However, not all parents are ready to follow the doctor’s recommendations exactly.

Low hemoglobin in society is considered not to be a very serious problem, so its normalization is sometimes trusted to products such as hematogen. It is believed that a bar containing bovine blood will be able to correct the situation. Experts warn that this remedy is not a therapeutic drug and can only be used as an auxiliary one.

In addition to iron-containing drugs, the child may be prescribed a course of enzymes, as well as bacteria for the intestines. All this must be taken if there are gastrointestinal diseases that can interfere with the complete absorption of iron supplements.

What should the diet be like?

How to increase hemoglobin levels with proper nutrition? In some cases, reviewing the diet may be the only treatment option. For example, special nutrition will help a child who does not have organic diseases and whose hemoglobin is not reduced to a critical level. Here it is worth dividing the diet for children under one year old and for those older.

Baby nutrition

If the baby is breastfed, the mother should take care of her diet. The lack of hemoglobin in such a baby will gradually be replenished if his mother’s diet contains foods that increase HGB, rich in iron, vitamins B6, B12, B9. For artificially-trained children, special iron-containing mixtures are included in the diet. If the baby is 0-6 months old, the finished mixture should contain at least 3-8 mg/l of iron, and children over six months old are recommended to be given a mixture containing 10-14 mg/l of iron. Such mixtures are also prescribed to prevent anemia in twins and premature infants.

Starting from six months, the child should receive iron-containing foods as complementary foods. These can be vegetable purees, cereals, juices, and some fruits. For children with low hemoglobin, the first complementary foods are introduced, starting with foods rich in iron.

• For vegetables, it is recommended to try Brussels sprouts;
• from porridges – buckwheat;
• when the time comes to introduce meat, you can start with beef, turkey, rabbit;
• As a drink, offer your baby compote of dried fruits, as well as rosehip infusion.

Nutrition for children over 1 year old

The child’s diet should include not only foods rich in iron and vitamins. The baby's table should be varied. Here is a list of animal products that increase hemoglobin:

• beef, pork, chicken liver (we recommend reading:);
• rabbit, turkey meat;
• beef;

• beef heart, tongue, kidneys;
• chicken meat;
• any fish, especially mackerel, carp;
• black caviar;
• egg yolk.

You can prepare pates from liver and offal, and serve meat in the form of meatballs and steamed cutlets. It is better to steam or boil fish. Plant foods can also replenish your body's iron stores. It is important that your child’s menu includes dishes from our list:

• seaweed;
• porridge – buckwheat, oatmeal;
• fruits - peaches, apples, pomegranates, apricots, bananas, pears, plums, persimmons, quinces (we recommend reading:);
• berries - gooseberries, black currants, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, blueberries;
• vegetables - carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, onions, greens;
• beans - beans, peas, lentils.

Vegetables can be baked, boiled, or served steamed. Fruits and berries can be eaten raw, or you can prepare compotes, jelly, fruit drinks, and jellies from them. Parents should remember that some foods do not contribute to the absorption of iron, so it is better to exclude them from the menu, or limit their consumption - soy, tea, coffee.

Folk ways to combat anemia

During the treatment of anemia, you can also use traditional methods of combating the disease. However, we note that most of them are suitable for children who are at least 2 years old, as well as those who are not susceptible to allergies. Recipes for medicinal products that you can prepare yourself:

• Rosehip infusion with lemon and honey. It is necessary to pour a tablespoon of rose hips into a glass of boiling water and let them brew for 3 hours in a container that holds the temperature well (in a thermos). Then strain, add a slice of lemon and 1 tsp. honey Divide this portion into two doses - give the child a drink in the morning and in the evening.
• Juice mixture. You will need freshly squeezed juices of apple, carrots and beets in a ratio of 2:1:1. Drink a 200 gram glass once a day. Before use, eat a tablespoon of sour cream.
• Sweet mass. For this delicious medicine you will need 100 g of raisins, dried apricots, prunes, walnuts, lemon and a glass of honey. Everything except the last ingredient must be ground in a meat grinder into a homogeneous mass and mixed with honey. This mixture should be given to the child 1 tsp. twice a day. Store it in the refrigerator.
• A mixture of buckwheat and nuts. You will need dry buckwheat, nuts and honey in equal proportions. Grind the buckwheat and nuts in a coffee grinder to fine crumbs, then mix with honey. Offer the resulting paste to the child 2 times a day, a teaspoon. It is believed that dark varieties of honey are most preferable for the treatment of anemia. It is buckwheat honey that contains the maximum amount of microelements that have a beneficial effect on the blood formula.

These methods are simple and effective. However, you need to understand that increasing a child’s hemoglobin without consulting a specialist is a dangerous undertaking. This problem may be deeper than it seems at first glance. A good doctor will make a diagnosis based on research and give recommendations for treating the baby. Traditional methods should be considered as an auxiliary way to support hematopoiesis. Let us note that the best helpers in this situation will be a responsible approach to the problem, as well as comprehensive treatment.

For the first time, when doing a clinical blood test of a child, parents are faced with the concept of “hemoglobin”. The level of this indicator in the blood constantly changes depending on the age of the baby. But in some cases, deviations from the norm can pose a potential danger. In the article you will learn about the causes of low and high hemoglobin in children, and what the hemoglobin level should be depending on age.

Hemoglobin and its main task in the body

Hemoglobin is a special protein found in red blood cells - erythrocytes. In tests it is designated Hb or HGB. This protein is in the blood of every person and has a complex structure. Hemoglobin contains an important non-protein component called heme. Heme contains iron, and it is what gives blood its red color.

Important! The main task of hemoglobin is to transport blood gases throughout the body - it combines with oxygen in the lungs, delivers oxygen to those tissues where there is little of it, and in return takes carbon dioxide and also carries it to the lungs; then combines again with oxygen, etc.

A particularly large amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells is present in newborns. In a child, in the first three days after birth, normal hemoglobin is maximum and amounts to 145-225 g/l. After this period, the breakdown of “unnecessary” red blood cells begins, which lasts about three weeks, and by 5-6 months, high hemoglobin decreases to 95-135 g/l.

Determination of the amount of hemoglobin in the blood

To find out what the child’s hemoglobin level is at a particular moment, the pediatrician orders a clinical blood test. A laboratory test determines the number of blood cells and how much hemoglobin in grams is contained in 1 liter of blood. For this reason, the unit of measurement for hemoglobin is grams per liter (g/L).

How is a blood test for hemoglobin performed:

• Blood for clinical analysis is most often taken capillary, i.e. taken from the finger. In rare cases, venous blood is taken from children for analysis;
• Blood test results may vary depending on what hours the blood was taken. They also depend on the amount of food eaten before the procedure. For more accurate results, it is recommended to take blood from the baby in the morning and on an empty stomach;
• Sometimes a blood test is done several times in a short time to compare indicators (during illness). In this case, it is important for the adult to ensure the most identical conditions for conducting the study in the child - take the test at the same hours, venous or capillary blood, on an empty/full stomach, etc.

Table with hemoglobin norms in children by age

Hemoglobin levels in children vary constantly and depend entirely on the age of the baby. The blood of newborns contains more hemoglobin and red blood cells than that of older children and adults. In the first year of life, there is a physiological decrease in the concentration of iron-containing protein in the blood, which is quite normal for infants. A table with hemoglobin norms will help parents compare the results of a clinical blood test with the norms in accordance with WHO recommendations.

On a note! To keep hemoglobin levels under control, the pediatrician prescribes hematological examinations for each child 1-2 times a year for preventive purposes. Children with chronic pathologies donate blood for analysis more often - more than 3 times a year.

Hemoglobin content in the blood of children under 1 year of age (average values)

What is the hemoglobin level in premature babies?

Babies born prematurely have lower hemoglobin levels than full-term newborns. The lower limit of normal for such a child is 160 g/l. Meanwhile, by 4 weeks of life in a premature baby, the hemoglobin level begins to decrease, while doctors call the lower limit of normal by 1 month 100 g/l. When the hemoglobin level is below 85 g/l in children under one year of age, the condition is considered critical and a donor blood transfusion is performed.

Babies born prematurely are more likely to suffer from anemia than their peers born at term. The reason for this is the insufficient maturity of the child’s internal organs.

Average hemoglobin levels in the blood of children aged 1 to 7 years

Some conclusions that can be drawn from this table with standards:

• At 1 year of age, a clinical blood test should show a hemoglobin result in the range of 110-140 g/l.
• At 2 years of age, the hemoglobin norm in most healthy children is at the same level as at 1 year of age. It happens that a child does not gain weight well by a given age, is not active, often asks to be held, and gets tired. These symptoms may be signs of developing anemia, so you should consult a doctor.
• Until the age of five, the hemoglobin level increases slightly or remains the same. It is permissible to increase the lower and upper limits by 5 units.
• After 5 years, there is an increase in hemoglobin levels, so the results of a blood test will already show figures of 120-140 g/l.

On a note! By the age of one year, an infant replenishes its reserves of iron and other microelements that are actively involved in the process of hematopoiesis, thanks to meat and plant products. With a sufficient intake of iron in food, hemoglobin after 14-18 months begins to be independently synthesized in the body in the required quantity.

6 factors affecting hemoglobin levels in children

1. Age– newborn children experience a maximum concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, which begins to decline almost immediately after birth. It is for this reason that the child’s age is indicated in the clinical blood test form for a correct assessment of the result obtained;
   

   note! A one-year-old child may have a hemoglobin level of 120 g/l, which is considered normal; at the same time, for a 2-3 month old baby, this indicator is a clear sign of anemia.

2. Pregnancy and childbirth mother– diseases of the mother’s hematopoietic system during pregnancy, significant blood loss during childbirth, multiple pregnancies and premature births can affect the hemoglobin level in the baby;
3. Power– Breastfed children are less likely to suffer from low hemoglobin, unlike babies fed an adapted formula. Also, one of the most common reasons for changes in hemoglobin levels is nutritional disturbances in a child older than 6 months. Failure to introduce complementary foods for a long time, lack of meat and cereals in the diet lead to a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
4. Health– significant fluctuations in hemoglobin levels from the norm often indicate the presence of hidden diseases in the child, thickening of the blood due to a lack of fluid in the body, etc.;
5. Heredity– if one of the parents has had high or low hemoglobin throughout their life in a normal state of health, then this genetic factor can be passed on to the child;
6. Seasons– a slight decrease in hemoglobin in the blood is observed in most children in the autumn-winter period.

All about hemoglobin from Doctor Komarovsky (video):

An increase in hemoglobin levels is inextricably linked with an increase in the level of red blood cells. When hemoglobin is slightly higher than normal, doctors usually do not attach any importance to this fact. Increased hemoglobin in children is often caused by harmless reasons - too much iron in the diet or insufficiently humid air in the room where the child spends most of his time.

You can determine the scale of the problem using a table by comparing the readings of a child’s clinical blood test with the permissible level of the upper limit of hemoglobin.

Symptoms of high hemoglobin

High hemoglobin in most cases does not manifest itself as any symptoms in the child’s health. In rare cases, if the amount of protein deviates significantly from the norm, loss of appetite, fatigue, drowsiness, frequent headaches and increased blood pressure may occur.

Causes of elevated hemoglobin

The most common causes of high hemoglobin in the blood include:

Fluid deficiency in the body

When dehydrated, the blood thickens, thereby causing an increase in hemoglobin. This is possible with ARVI accompanied by fever, intestinal infections with vomiting/stool upset, excessive sweating, diabetes, etc.

Respiratory system diseases

In chronic diseases of the respiratory system, respiratory failure often develops. The body's tissues need oxygen, so the number of red blood cells increases significantly to compensate the body for the lack of oxygen.

Heart failure

Chronic heart failure in children is caused by congenital heart pathology and is a common cause of elevated hemoglobin levels.

Diseases of the renal system

In kidney diseases that increase excess secretion of the hormone erythropoietin, the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells remains at a consistently high level.

Blood diseases

In some blood diseases, increased growth of red blood cells begins, and hemoglobin also significantly exceeds the permissible norm. The same effect is observed in the presence of benign and malignant tumors in the body.

The danger of high hemoglobin in children

Severe blood thickening threatens to disrupt the functioning of internal organs and body systems, form blood clots and deteriorate brain activity. With a constant high level of hemoglobin, excess iron can accumulate in the pancreas, kidneys, and liver, which disrupts their function and can subsequently cause pathological conditions of these organs.

What to do if you have high hemoglobin?

Increased hemoglobin in children is not a disease, but one of the symptoms of poor health. The task of the parents and pediatrician in this case is to find out the reason for the high hemoglobin content in the child’s blood and do everything possible to regulate this indicator as soon as possible.

• If hemoglobin has increased as a result of an illness, the doctor will prescribe treatment with blood thinning medications, selecting the correct dosage in accordance with the child’s age.
• If the problem is in the daily diet with a high presence of iron-containing foods, then adults should review their baby’s menu, including more fish, legumes, white meat, chicken and turkey.

Low hemoglobin in a child

A decrease in the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells is interpreted by most doctors as an unambiguous sign of the presence of one of the most diverse anemias (iron deficiency, radiation, post-infectious, etc.).

Anemia in a young child is diagnosed when hemoglobin decreases, depending on the specific age. Depending on the level of protein concentration in the blood, three degrees of anemia are diagnosed - mild, moderate and acute.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin

Anemia in a child rarely goes unnoticed. One or more pronounced symptoms are often observed:

• complete lack of appetite;
• causeless muscle weakness;
• dizziness, fainting;
• pale skin;
• sleep disturbances (drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia);
• dry skin, peeling;
• low-grade body temperature;
• the appearance of white spots on the nails, etc.

Low hemoglobin in a child - mother’s opinion:

Causes of low hemoglobin in children

Low hemoglobin in children is most often a consequence of iron deficiency anemia.

• Iron deficiency in infants is often caused by the mother's anemia during pregnancy, which prevents the baby from accumulating the required supply of the element in the body.
• In children older than six months, failure to introduce complementary foods leads to iron deficiency. All reserves of the element accumulated during the period of intrauterine development are depleted by 6 months; and breast milk and formula do not contain enough iron for full development and growth. As a result, the baby develops a lack of iron, which leads to anemia by the age of one year.
• By the age of five or six years, iron deficiency is usually caused by an inadequate, unbalanced diet. This is possible if the child refuses to eat cereals, meat dishes, or the whole family adheres to a vegetarian diet.

Other causes of low hemoglobin in children include:

• acute or chronic blood loss;
• disruption of red blood cell production;
• hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells);
• acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
• past infectious diseases;
• autoimmune diseases;
• taking certain medications, etc.

The dangers of low hemoglobin

In a state of anemia (low hemoglobin content), the child’s well-being worsens. The organs are in a state of oxygen starvation, because do not receive enough oxygen. Lack of hemoglobin leads to poor health, susceptibility to frequent colds, and decreased immunity. If the problem remains unresolved for a long time, then there is a risk of delayed intellectual and/or physical development of the child.

What else you need to know about infant hemoglobin. What to do if you have anemia:

What to do if your hemoglobin level is low?

Only a doctor can determine whether a child has anemia based on a clinical blood test. First, the pediatrician must identify the cause of this condition in order to select the correct treatment.

• In case of iron deficiency anemia, the child is prescribed medications with iron (Maltofer, Ferronat, Totema, etc.). Taking medications is usually spread over a course of 6-8 weeks.
• If an infant's hemoglobin reaches less than 85 g/l in a short period of time, this condition is assessed by medicine as critical and requires a donor blood transfusion. For babies older than 12 months, transfusion is performed in a different case - if hemoglobin has dropped to 70 g/l or lower.

Menu for maintaining normal hemoglobin

Introducing complementary feeding to an infant is the best way to normalize hemoglobin levels in the blood without medical intervention. The diet of a child from 6 months to one year must include the following products: lean boiled meat, sea fish fillet, pureed vegetables and legumes. In addition, fresh red fruits, dried fruits (dried apricots, prunes), rosehip decoction, compotes from dried apples and pears, as well as fermented milk products (baby cottage cheese, yogurt, bifidok, unsalted cheese) contribute to the absorption of iron.

In case of iron deficiency anemia, an iron-fortified diet often comes to the rescue.

• For infants under 6 months of age, the daily iron requirement is 0.27 mg/day.
• Infants from 7 months to one year (during rapid growth) need 11 mg of iron per day.
• Children 1-3 years old are recommended to consume foods containing 7 mg of iron per day.
• For children aged 4 to 7 years, the recommended iron intake is 10 mg/day.

The table below contains a list of products that help maintain normal hemoglobin levels.

Note! If the child’s next routine examination reveals that the hemoglobin in the blood has dropped several readings below normal, parents should not fall into despair. Often, it is the lack of iron intake from the diet that is the main cause of anemia in children, which means that normalizing the diet will gradually solve the problem.

Prevention of anemia

Tips to help you avoid problems associated with childhood anemia:

• During pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to undergo tests on time. This will allow timely detection of a decrease in hemoglobin in blood cells and, if possible, eliminate it. Also, a pregnant woman should not neglect taking multivitamins and take them as prescribed by the doctor.
• Mothers should also not give up breastfeeding without reason. Iron is absorbed from breast milk much better than from the most expensive adapted milk formulas.
• During lactation, a nursing mother needs to control her menu, make her diet varied, and enrich it with fresh and healthy foods. It is from what is on the mother’s table that the baby will receive such important proteins, iron and all the vitamins necessary for hematopoiesis.
• Introduce complementary foods to your child in a timely manner, because by the age of 6 months, the child no longer has enough iron accumulated in his body, as well as the mineral supplied with breast milk.
• If your baby has been introduced to complementary foods, there is no need to try to wean him off the breast at the same time. The enzymes contained in mother's milk will help the baby correctly and fully absorb iron from the new food introduced in complementary feeding.
• Cow's milk should not be introduced into complementary foods for children under 12 months of age. Many well-known pediatricians recommend holding off on using this product until the child is 1.5 years old. Consumption of cow's milk by infants is a risk factor for the development of anemia.
• Children under 2 years of age should not be given black tea as a drink. This is unacceptable, since tea contains tannins that bind iron and prevent this element from remaining in the body.
• Every day and as often as possible you need to spend time with your baby in the fresh air. Walking saturates the lungs with oxygen and also stimulates the formation of new blood cells.
• Take your child regularly for checkups with the pediatrician. If necessary, take your baby and all tests prescribed by your local doctor. This will allow you to identify any errors in the baby’s health and hematopoietic system in a timely manner.

How often do you need to get tested for hemoglobin?

In accordance with WHO recommendations, a healthy child should be examined once a year to determine the amount of hemoglobin. In the presence of chronic diseases, children are examined regularly, including repeated clinical blood tests.

When taking a clinical blood test for hemoglobin, the following nuances should be taken into account:

• The hemoglobin concentration will be lower if you take a blood test from a child in a horizontal position (lying down).
• After eating a meal, the amount of hemoglobin decreases. Also, less hemoglobin is observed when taking the test in the evening.
• If a health care professional applies excessive finger pressure when collecting capillary blood, interstitial fluid may enter the blood sample and dilute it. Because of this, the hemoglobin result will be 5-7% lower than the actual level.
• In the event that venous blood is taken, and the tourniquet was applied for a long time by a health worker during the procedure, vascular stasis will occur and, as a result, the hemoglobin level will be elevated.

Any changes that suddenly arise in the baby’s condition should alert parents. For example, if the child began to get irritated for no reason, became capricious, circles appeared under the eyes, or the baby became pale. But you shouldn’t sign up for a blood donation without permission from a doctor. If you suspect your child has anemia, the first thing you should do is contact your pediatrician.

Often parents are faced with the problem of low hemoglobin in their child. What to do and is it necessary to take iron supplements? What can inaction lead to? Let's try to figure it out!

Causes of anemia

There can be many objective reasons for low hemoglobin in children. Let's consider the main etiological factors.

Prenatal period

Low maternal hemoglobin levels. Very often pregnant women have to treat anemia. Sometimes a blood test can reveal false indicators associated with an increase in the total circulating fluid; accordingly, the concentration of hemoglobin per unit volume decreases.

But often anemia is true. It appears mainly after 15 weeks. Depending on the degree, mandatory treatment is prescribed, since if the mother is diagnosed with low hemoglobin during pregnancy, the consequences for the child can be dangerous.

Firstly, during the period of antenatal development this can become a cause. Secondly, after birth the risks of developing anemia are high.

Premature birth

The optimal time for the birth of a baby is 40 weeks. By this time, all organs and systems become morphologically mature, and accordingly, they can perform the function assigned to them to the required extent.

The main reasons for low hemoglobin in the blood of a premature baby is imperfection of the hematopoietic organs.

Postnatal period

What should it be according to age? You will find complete information about this issue in a separate article.

Hereditary diseases

• Sickle cell anemia. Due to a gene mutation, Hb S is synthesized (instead of normal Hb A), and red blood cells acquire a sickle shape. Anemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. In heterozygotes, symptoms of low hemoglobin are not expressed. But in homozygotes the disease is quite complicated. The oxygen transport capacity of red blood cells is impaired, and signs of chronic hypoxia come to the fore.
• Thalassemia. It occurs due to point mutations in the genes encoding hemoglobin. As a result, the process of RNA synthesis is disrupted. This leads to a decrease in the formation of single polypeptide chains. There may be a complete stop of synthesis. As a result, the Hb structure becomes unstable and the function of red blood cells is impaired. Hemolysis of red blood cells is the cause of low hemoglobin in newborns.

Causes of low hemoglobin in children by age

Why is hemoglobin low in children of different age categories? Let's consider what the main reasons lead to a decrease in the indicator in children of different age groups.

In newborns

A deterioration in the oxygen transport capacity of blood elements can be observed when:

• hemolytic anemia;
• congenital pathologies;
• anemia in the mother during pregnancy and due to lack of proper treatment.

Causes of low hemoglobin in an infant

• Poor nutrition of the mother (if the baby is breastfed). Up to 6 months there is a physiological decrease in the indicator. Further, the reserves accumulated during the period of intrauterine development are gradually exhausted.
• Untimely. If the baby has a tendency towards lower Hb numbers in the blood test, meat products are introduced 20 days earlier.
• Disorders of the digestive system, including.
• Hereditary diseases.
• Infectious diseases.

Parents are often concerned about low hemoglobin in a child at 3 months. Whether there is a need for therapeutic measures or not, the specialist determines, taking into account the level of deviation of the indicator from the permissible limits.

Causes of low hemoglobin in a child 2 years and older

• The diet is poor in food sources of iron, copper, manganese, B vitamins;
• Gastrointestinal diseases: gastritis, enterocolitis, duodenitis;
• infections of a viral or bacterial nature;
• malignant neoplasms;
• blood loss;
• poisoning with toxic substances.

Signs of the disease

There are times when parents accidentally discover in a blood test that their baby has anemia.

But often a reduced level of this indicator can be suspected by carefully looking at the baby.

So, what should you pay attention to first?

• Appearance. If your little one has a pale face, dark circles under the eyes, and the red border of the lips is pale pink, you need to take a blood test.
• Behavior. Lethargy, drowsiness, moodiness, irritability, and emotional instability should alert you, as all these are symptoms of low hemoglobin in a child.
• Lack of appetite, poor weight gain, regurgitation. Abnormal stool, frequent constipation.
• Reduced immunity to viral diseases.

With 1 degree of anemia (Hb not lower than 90 g/l), there may be no special signs of the disease. If the whole issue lies in an unbalanced diet, then by eliminating the cause of low hemoglobin, dangerous consequences can be avoided.

With moderate severity, infants experience a delay in the development of motor skills, tachycardia, dry skin, and fatigue.

Severe anemia is manifested by impaired psychomotor development, distortion of taste sensations; such children often suffer from colds. Upon examination, they are diagnosed with an enlarged spleen and liver.

Why is low hemoglobin dangerous?

Oxygen is a necessary substrate for maintaining the vital activity of every cell of the body.

Deficiency leads to serious complications.

Let's look at them in more detail.

• The cardiovascular system. Under conditions of reduced oxygenation, compensatory mechanisms are activated. Namely: to compensate for the lack of oxygen supply, the heart begins to contract more often. Tachycardia develops. And this leads to depletion of the heart muscle. The ECG reveals a functional systolic murmur.
• Gastrointestinal tract. Digestion is disrupted. Children suffer from frequent flatulence.
• Bladder sphincter weakness, enuresis.
• The immune system is weakened, the body does not provide adequate resistance against viral infections.
• The skin is dry, and this contributes to the development of dermatological diseases.
• Hair becomes brittle.
• There is a delay in the baby's psychomotor development.

If the cause of low hemoglobin in a child is identified and eliminated in time, the consequences described above can be avoided.

What can and cannot be done with low Hb levels?

Experts have differing opinions on vaccinations. Some believe that it is absolutely forbidden to do them during this period. Others say that it is possible at a level of at least 100 mg/l.

Pediatricians are unanimous on one thing: Before starting vaccination, it is necessary to answer the question why the child has low hemoglobin and only then decide on the advisability of immunization.

It is better to postpone planned surgical interventions until the blood picture returns to normal. Emergency surgery is performed under strict control of hemodynamic parameters.

Diagnostics

Low hemoglobin in the blood can be detected by taking a general blood test. To diagnose a latent form of the disease, in which blood Hb levels are normal, but the reserves in the depot are exhausted, it is necessary to conduct a biochemical study.

Characteristic features will be:

• decrease in albumin;
• decrease in the content of iron, ferritin in the blood serum;
• increasing the ability of blood plasma to bind iron;
• decrease in transferrin saturation with iron.

During the study, attention is also paid to the number of red blood cells, the concentration of Hb in 1 red blood cell, and the color indicator.

Tests are taken in the morning on an empty stomach; increased physical activity is also not advisable.

Therefore, the answer to the question: “if a child has low hemoglobin, what should I do?” – First of all, you need to contact your pediatrician.

Treatment

The most common question is how to increase hemoglobin?

Nutrition correction

In case of mild severity, you can begin therapy with nutritional correction..

Let's look at what to eat if you have low hemoglobin.

As already written above, iron is absorbed better from meat products, therefore a vegetarian diet is contraindicated here.

Meat complementary foods are introduced 3 weeks earlier and start with dietary varieties that contain the largest amount of iron - rabbit, turkey.

Combine with vegetables, fruit juices, purees.

Products that increase hemoglobin in children include buckwheat, oatmeal, greens, and apples.

Drug therapy

If it is not possible to normalize blood counts by eliminating the nutritional factor, begin drug therapy.

Here There are 2 types of drugs: containing 2-valent and 3-valent iron. Since trivalent iron is absorbed in the intestines, preparations with bivalent iron should be taken together with fruit juices or special preparations that contain ascorbic acid.

Iron preparations for low hemoglobin, such as Sorbifer, Hemofer (2-valent), can cause dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, and stain tooth enamel dark.

Trivalent drugs - Maltofer, Ferrum Lek - have fewer side effects.

Children are prescribed a daily dose of 3 mg/kg. But you need to start taking it with 3 parts of this dose. If the baby accepts the drug normally, no earlier than after 5 days they switch to the full daily dose.

A month later, they take a blood test again to monitor the indicators.. If the dynamics are positive, over the next 2 months you need to take half the previous dose. If Hb does not increase, it is necessary to change the drug.

About the timing of treatment for low hemoglobin in a child under one year old, Komarovsky says that You shouldn’t expect a miracle a month after starting therapy.

If after 1-1.5 months. stop taking iron-containing medications, the Hb level will decrease again. Treatment should last at least 2.5-3 months, since the necessary supplies accumulate in the depot for about another month.

Dr. Komarovsky talks more about the problem of low hemoglobin in this video.

For moderate severity, additional iron supplements are sometimes prescribed in the form of intramuscular injections. The duration of this course of treatment should be no more than 10 days, as a complication may develop - hemosiderosis - iron accumulates in excess.

The indication for blood transfusion with low hemoglobin is a level below 60 g/l. A dangerous condition, as oxygen starvation of the brain occurs, which can lead to irreversible processes. Transfusion of red blood cells requires exclusively inpatient conditions.

6 basic rules that, if followed, will significantly reduce the risk of developing anemia

1. Adequate nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and lactation.
2. Breast-feeding.
3. Timely and correct introduction of complementary foods (meat is combined with foods containing vitamin C).
4. Daily 2-3 hour walks in the fresh air.
5. Eating foods rich in B vitamins, as well as microelements such as copper and manganese. Vitamin B12 stimulates the absorption of iron in the duodenum. Copper also promotes the transfer of Fe from the intestines into the bloodstream and is involved in the conversion of the 2-valent to the 3-valent form.
6. Prevention of malnutrition and rickets.