To understand
anemia
(say: uh-
nee-
mee-uh), it helps to know a little bit about breathing. Have you
ever tried to hold your breath? At first, you feel fine. After a
short time, though, you need to take a breath. That's because
when we breathe, our
lungs
take in oxygen (say:
ok-
sih-jen) from the air. We need oxygen to live.
We also need a way to get the oxygen from the lungs to the rest
of the body. Blood flows like a river through every part of the
body. The blood carries the oxygen, but the oxygen needs something
to hang on to. It needs a boat - and the boats that carry oxygen
are
red blood cells
.
Red blood cells (or RBCS, for short) are made inside the
bones
in the soft, spongy area called the
bone marrow
(say:
mar
-o). So every time you take a breath, you breathe in oxygen. And
your RBCs carry oxygen to every cell in your body.
What Is Anemia?
Anemia occurs when a person doesn't have the normal amount
of red blood cells or if the person is low on
hemoglobin
(say:
hee-
muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin, a protein, is an important part of RBCs
because it gives the oxygen something to stick to.
A kid who has anemia may not know it because he or she may not
have any symptoms. Looking pale can be a sign of anemia because
there is less blood flowing through the blood vessels in the skin.
A fast heartbeat can be another sign of anemia, because when you
don't have as many RBCs, the heart has to work harder to get
the same amount of blood and oxygen to the body. If anemia worsens,
a kid who was once very active may become worn out quickly. He or
she may feel weak or tired.
Why Do Kids Get Anemia?
The bone marrow in a person's body makes new red blood cells
to replace the old ones that die off after about 120 days.
A person may get anemia if:
- not enough RBCs are made
- too many RBCs are destroyed
- too many RBCs are lost (bleeding)
Not enough being made
: There are several reasons why a person might not make enough red
blood cells, but often it's because the person isn't
getting enough iron. Iron is a nutrient found in meat, dried beans,
and green leafy vegetables. Without iron, the body can't make
hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying part of a red blood cell.
Besides iron, your body needs the
vitamins
B12 and folic acid to make RBCs. You get these vitamins in the
foods you eat. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, so
vegetarians who don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy products have to
look for other ways to get enough of this important vitamin. Folic
acid is found in a variety of foods, such as citrus fruits, green
vegetables, and fortified cereals.
Anemia also can develop if the bone marrow is not working
properly. This may be because of an infection or a chronic illness,
such as arthritis or kidney disease. In rare cases, someone might
be born without the ability to make enough red blood cells. Certain
medications like chemotherapy for cancer can keep the bone marrow
from being able to make enough RBCs.
Too many being destroyed:
If the life of a red blood cell is cut short for any reason, the
bone marrow may not be able to keep up with the increased demand
for new ones. One reason RBCs get destroyed is because their shape
changes. If you looked at them through a microscope, you would see
that they are round and flattened. That's a good shape for
moving through tight spaces as blood circulates around the
body.
If the shape changes, as is the case in
sickle cell anemia
, the red blood cells get stuck and break. Sickle cells are curved
like crescent moons. This shape makes it hard for them to move
throughout the body. Sickle cell anemia is one of several genetic
conditions that can shorten the life span of RBCs. Certain
medications, infections, and chronic diseases also may cause this
type of anemia.
Too much lost:
When you lose a little blood, like when you cut yourself or have a
nosebleed, your bone marrow is able to make more blood so you
don't develop anemia. But if you lose a lot of blood, which may
happen in a serious accident, your bone marrow may not be able to
replace the red blood cells quickly enough.
If someone loses a little blood over a long period of time, it
can also lead to anemia by losing more iron in the lost blood than
is taken into the body by food you eat. Without enough iron in the
body, the bone marrow can't make enough RBCs. This can happen
in girls who have heavy menstrual periods, especially if they
don't get enough iron in their diets, or in people who have
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
What Do Doctors Do?
When you see the doctor, he or she will examine you and ask
questions about how you have been feeling, what you eat, and if you
are taking any medicines. If a doctor thinks a kid has anemia, he
or she can order a simple blood test called a hematocrit (say: hih-
mah
-tuh-krit).
The blood sample then can be studied in the laboratory where the
number of RBCs can be counted, the amount of hemoglobin can be
measured, and the size and shape of the cells can be examined. A
doctor may order additional tests, depending on what he or she
suspects is the problem.
How Is Anemia Treated?
The treatment of anemia depends on the cause. In kids, the most
common cause of anemia is not getting enough iron in their diets.
Some kids may need to take medicine containing iron to help their
bodies make more red blood cells. It is also important to eat more
foods that are rich in iron, like meat, enriched grains and
cereals, dried beans, and tofu.
If the anemia is caused by an infection, usually the anemia will
go away when the infection is treated and the body gets healthy
again. For some other types of anemia, the kid may need to see a
specialist and have additional tests before treatment can
start.
Whatever the cause, someone with severe anemia may need a blood
transfusion. A transfusion means that donated blood, which is
stored at a place called a blood bank, is given through tube in a
vein. This may sound a little scary, but millions of kids and
adults have blood transfusions every year. Except for inserting the
tube, they don't hurt. And getting a blood transfusion is the
fastest way to get blood to deliver oxygen to all the cells in the
body.
Kids who have anemia may have to take it easy for a while. But
once their bodies start making enough red blood cells, oxygen can
reach all their tissues again, and they'll get some of that kid
energy back!
Reviewed by:
Christopher N. Frantz, MD
Date reviewed: February 2009
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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