About this topic
Your body needs iron to help it work properly. Iron is a mineral and you can find it in each cell of the body and tissues. Your body uses iron to make blood cells. The blood cells then carry oxygen to all parts of our body. ‚
General
Babies and children need iron to help them grow and develop the right way. A low level of iron may cause a low red blood cell count. If young children lack iron, they may have problems with finishing tasks and paying attention. Low iron levels are very common in children. This problem is easy to treat with changes to diet and iron supplements. ‚
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What drugs may be needed?
Your child may be asked to take: ‚
- Iron supplements ¢ ˆ ’ To raise the level of iron in your childs body
- Vitamin C ¢ ˆ ’ To help your child's body absorb iron better
What foods are good to eat?
Some of the best sources of iron are: ‚
- Formula with extra iron
- Meats and proteins like: Eggs (mainly egg yolks), liver, lean red meat (mainly beef), oysters, clams, poultry, salmon, tuna, tofu
- Breads and grains like: Iron-fortified breads and cereals, whole grains
- Fruits like: Dried fruits such as prunes, raisins, and apricots; prune juice
- Veggies like: Spinach and other dark green leafy veggies; dried beans; white, red, and baked beans; soybeans; peas; lentils; chickpeas
Your child should also eat foods rich in vitamin C such as: ‚
- Fruits like: Oranges, tangerines, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe
- Veggies like: Broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes
Look at the food labels for foods high in iron and vitamin C ‚
What foods should be limited or avoided?
Some foods may lower the amount of iron in the body. These foods are black or pekoe teas and cows milk products. Talk to your child's doctor about other foods to avoid. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Bloody stools
- Blue skin color
- Chest pain
- Very bad belly cramps
- Weakness
- Child irritable or fussy
- Loss of appetite
Helpful tips
- Rest will help your child save energy.
- When giving iron supplements to your child:
- Give with citrus juice, citrus fruits, or water.
- Have your child use a straw if using the liquid.
- Rinse your childs mouth or brush your child's teeth after giving the liquid.
- Have your child drink 6 to 8 glasses of water to help prevent hard stools.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/ida.html# ‚
National Institute of Health ‚
http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/guidelines_for_Iron_supplementation.pdf ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚