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Parenting > Kids Health and Pediatrics Forum > Iron deficiency in infants
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Q: Iron deficiency in infants
asked by: DoctorQuestion on August 25th, 2009
My 10 year old son (55 1/2" tall and 61.6 pounds) has been running fevers about every two weeks all summer long. The doctors finally ran a battery of blood tests.

Everything was normal except for his iron. The iron stores were fine, but circulation is very low.

Iron binding capacity 327 (normal is 271 - 448)
Iron % saturation 4 (L) (normal is 8 - 48%)

Specialist said: see a hematologist. GP said do iron supplements for 6 weeks "a normal adult dose" without telling me what that was in mg.

Question is -- should I just do the iron supplements for 6 weeks and retest as GP recommends or go see a hematologist as the specialist (his asthma doctor) recommends? Child is ADHD and on many meds for ADHD and asthma. Thanks.


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Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD
replied on August 31st, 2009
Kids Health and Pediatrics Answer A7166

Referring to the data you provided (low iron saturation with normal iron binding capacity), it may be likely that your son might be experiencing an iron deficiency.


Iron deficiency in children might be caused by any of the following reasons: insufficient iron intake, insufficient iron absorption in the intestines, higher blood loss (often or severe bleedings), and increased needs for iron (during intensive periods of growth like puberty). If iron is not supplemented properly, then iron deficiency related anemia might be caused.


It might also be present in cases of frequent infections just as you reported.
So, as you can see, in most cases iron supplements are all that is needed.


However, the frequent infections need more investigation and you are advised to visit a hematologist for the anemia. You might be referred to a specialist in infective diseases or a specialist in immunology because of the frequent infections.


As for the iron supplements dosage please be aware that in children the iron dosage is lower depending on the age and the table formula. Otherwise, an iron overdosage might happen.




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