【Local medical care】Early screening for iron deficiency anemia to avoid developmental delay in children

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Text: Chen Xiaoquan Arrangement: Liang Yingxiu

(Kuala Lumpur) In 2019, the World Health Organization stated that about 650,000 children in Malaysia suffer from anemia, especially children under the age of 5. This means that 1 in 4 children suffers from red blood cell deficiency or anemia.

Early symptoms Tiredness Shortness of breath

Professor Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin, Senior Consultant, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Malaya Medical Center pointed out that the situation is even worse during the movement control order period, because many parents have income problems, resulting in children not getting enough nutrition or iron. quality to prevent anemia.

According to the definition of the World Health Organization,

Anemia is defined as hemoglobin

or lower than normal red blood cell levels, in children ages 5 to 11,

If their hemoglobin or red blood cells are below 110g/L,

The red blood cells of children aged 12 to 14 are less than 115g/L,

Considered anemia in children.

Anemia is a condition in which the body lacks red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin.

There are four causes of iron deficiency anemia:

1. Insufficient iron food intake.

2. Toddlers and teenagers grow fast.

3. Children’s intestinal absorption of iron is insufficient.

4. Caused by blood loss.

So, who is prone to iron deficiency anemia?1. Premature babies; 2. Children who do not take in iron foods; 3. Children with chronic diseases or strict dietary restrictions; 4. Children with roundworm problems, who have problems with the absorption of iron in their intestines. Finally, there are girls, who also suffer from anemia when they lose too much blood during menstruation.

What are the initial symptoms of iron deficiency anemia? He noted that these children may feel more tired than usual, have shortness of breath, racing heart or dizziness. They feel dizzy when they stand, have trouble concentrating, and their thinking may become sluggish or slow. Plus, their nails become brittle and break easily, and their skin turns pale.

“We can broadly see the consequences of iron deficiency in children. Children who are deficient in iron may have developmental problems. In addition, their cognitive abilities and motor function are affected. They also often feel tired and lethargic sleep, and their immune system is also affected.”

According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), Malaysian children aged 5 or below are facing malnutrition. The report showed that 21.8 percent of children aged 5 or younger were stunted.

Malnutrition among many children during the MCP period

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also pointed out that during the movement control order, the protein intake of low-income groups decreased, while the intake of instant noodles increased, that is to say, those below B40 groups have various problems. Under the influence of children’s food intake, resulting in malnutrition.

He emphasized that in the early stages of the fetus, we need to ensure that the mother-to-be is well cared for, including taking supplements, iron and folic acid. Second, children need iron-rich foods and milk. Third, to change eating habits to increase iron absorption, by taking vitamin C with food to ensure iron absorption from food.

“Beyond this, we need to educate parents about the importance of a balanced diet and iron intake so they can provide the best food for their children. Also, parents need to have regular checkups and screenings for iron deficiency anemia.”

Iron can be obtained from two main sources, vegetable and animal. Foods containing animal iron include lamb or beef, salmon, chicken, tuna, sardines, and eggs; foods containing plant iron include tofu, wheat, cereals, chickpeas, peanuts, spinach, dried fruit, and milk.

Food Matching Vitamin C

Increase iron absorption

When asked what nutritional strategies Mohd Yazid parents can adopt?

He thought for a while, and then shared his experience, saying that taking vitamin C together with iron-containing foods can increase iron absorption.

Studies have shown that taking iron with vitamin C can increase iron absorption by 4 to 6 times.

“For example, eating peanut butter with watermelon can increase the absorption of iron in peanuts. Iron-rich cereals and oranges can also do the same. In addition, eating cereals with mango can increase the absorption of iron in peanuts. The absorption of iron and vitamin C by the eater.”

1200 children participated in the study

He also shared a clinical study which assessed the incidence of anemia in Malaysian children. Usually, in order to determine whether a child is suffering from anemia, we need to draw blood tests from children, but in this study, we used non-invasive tools for screening.

“Whether they are children in urban or rural areas, we tried to enroll 1200 children from maternity and child clinics (KKIA) in Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor, Sabah and Johor to participate in the study. In this study, it is hoped that the anemia Risk prevalence and factors are better understood, and the public is encouraged to use non-invasive tools to screen children to assess the risk of anemia. Through this study, we will explore whether this program can be used to detect and intervene in children with anemia.”

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