Check Your Kid’s Haemoglobin Level
Mar 28, 2004
Anaemia, sometimes called “weak blood†can diminish your child’s learning capacity and attention span!
By Grace Canada
Anaemia, sometimes called “weak blood†can diminish your child’s learning capacity and attention span!
Anaemia means that the blood does not contain enough haemoglobin which is a component of the red blood cell which contains iron and gives blood its red colour. Hemoglobin also carries oxygen to the cells in the body.
Hemoglobin is measured in grams per 100ml of blood. (see diagram for details). Hemoglobin count below 7-10gm/100ml is considered moderate anemia. Severe anemia is below 7gm/100ml of blood.
anaemia is a global problem affecting mainly children and women. When its level is lower than normal the blood becomes weak and its ability to carry oxygen to the cells is decreased.
This results in tiredness, dizziness or headaches, loss of appetite, or nausea. An anaemic child may feel breathless or may feel his or her heart beating faster, and the legs may swell. Because of this he seems uninterested in studies and other activities.
The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. When your child does not eat enough of the foods that contain iron, he or she will develop nutritional anemia. However there are other causes of anemia, for example infections such as malaria, hook worm and sickle cell disease. Hence it is important to make sure the child is not misdiagnosed.
Here are some recommendations:
lHave your child’s blood measured for haemoglibin count.
lHave the feaces checked for hookworms and other parasites.
lGet his or her blood tested for malaria and sickle cell disease.
lTalk to your daughter about her menstrual bleeding. Is it heavy?
lGet the necessary treatment.
Nutritional strategy: Include in your family meals iron-rich foods like- liver, kidney, and other offals, fish chicken, beef or any other red meat and eggs.
Dried cooked beans, peas, groundnuts and fermented millet are also very good.
You should also include vegetables, especially tomatoes, green pepper, pumpkin, cabbage, and other leafy dark green vegetables.
Fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes are particularly good because they contain higher amounts of vitamin C.
However, other fruits should be also be included. Vitamin C facilitates the absorption of iron. The same applies to the mentioned vegetables.
lGive iron and folate supplements. But before you do, talk to your doctor about it. Too much iron can be bad for your child.
lAvoid taking tea or coffee within three and a half hours after meals. Both contain a chemical called ‘tannin’ which can severely interfere with iron absorption.
lHave your child sleep under a mosquito net.
for protection against
malaria.
Ends
Anaemia, sometimes called “weak blood†can diminish your child’s learning capacity and attention span!
Anaemia means that the blood does not contain enough haemoglobin which is a component of the red blood cell which contains iron and gives blood its red colour. Hemoglobin also carries oxygen to the cells in the body.
Hemoglobin is measured in grams per 100ml of blood. (see diagram for details). Hemoglobin count below 7-10gm/100ml is considered moderate anemia. Severe anemia is below 7gm/100ml of blood.
anaemia is a global problem affecting mainly children and women. When its level is lower than normal the blood becomes weak and its ability to carry oxygen to the cells is decreased.
This results in tiredness, dizziness or headaches, loss of appetite, or nausea. An anaemic child may feel breathless or may feel his or her heart beating faster, and the legs may swell. Because of this he seems uninterested in studies and other activities.
The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. When your child does not eat enough of the foods that contain iron, he or she will develop nutritional anemia. However there are other causes of anemia, for example infections such as malaria, hook worm and sickle cell disease. Hence it is important to make sure the child is not misdiagnosed.
Here are some recommendations:
lHave your child’s blood measured for haemoglibin count.
lHave the feaces checked for hookworms and other parasites.
lGet his or her blood tested for malaria and sickle cell disease.
lTalk to your daughter about her menstrual bleeding. Is it heavy?
lGet the necessary treatment.
Nutritional strategy: Include in your family meals iron-rich foods like- liver, kidney, and other offals, fish chicken, beef or any other red meat and eggs.
Dried cooked beans, peas, groundnuts and fermented millet are also very good.
You should also include vegetables, especially tomatoes, green pepper, pumpkin, cabbage, and other leafy dark green vegetables.
Fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes are particularly good because they contain higher amounts of vitamin C.
However, other fruits should be also be included. Vitamin C facilitates the absorption of iron. The same applies to the mentioned vegetables.
lGive iron and folate supplements. But before you do, talk to your doctor about it. Too much iron can be bad for your child.
lAvoid taking tea or coffee within three and a half hours after meals. Both contain a chemical called ‘tannin’ which can severely interfere with iron absorption.
lHave your child sleep under a mosquito net.
for protection against
malaria.
Ends