Hemoglobin is the main element of red blood cells and is responsible for the supply of oxygen to all organs and tissues. Its deficiency in the body leads to hypoxic conditions, i.e. to oxygen deficiency. Therefore, the control of hemoglobin in the blood during pregnancy is necessary constantly.
Children are born mainly with a very high level of this element in the blood (from 150 to 220 g / l). Then its decrease is observed, and by one or two months it usually ranges from 90 to 120 g / l. After the introduction of complementary foods, the indicator begins to increase, therefore, hemoglobin in children up to a year in the range from 105 to 140 g / l is considered normal.
How to diagnose a decrease in this indicator? In addition to increased fatigue and drowsiness, children have dry skin, frequent colds, decreased appetite, and developmental delays, both on a physical level and on a psychological one. Decreased hemoglobin in children under one year of age indicates an anemic condition in the mother during pregnancy. Iron deficiency is experienced by over 50 percent of pregnant women. The best prevention of this disease is early diagnosis. To return hemoglobin to normal, a woman is prescribed iron preparations and a special diet.
Reduced hemoglobin in children up to a year and after must be restored. Without iron, the body will suffer, the child will often suffer from intestinal and viral diseases, the accumulation of carbon dioxide will provoke toxic conditions. Therefore, at the first signs of manifestation, you should immediately pass a general blood test. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the pediatrician will prescribe treatment.
When a baby is breastfed, it is recommended to adjust the mother’s nutrition, focusing on iron-containing foods. Low hemoglobin in children under one year of age who are on artificial feeding is restored by the appointment of milk mixtures containing iron. If these measures do not bring results, special drugs are prescribed in accordance with the age of the child. However, in this form, iron is poorly absorbed by the body; ascorbic and folic acids are needed to improve the process.
What hemoglobin in children should be in the future? The indicators will not change much. By six years, the lower limit of the norm will be 110 g / l, by twelve - 115 g \ l, and by fifteen and beyond - 120 g \ l.
In some cases, reverse anemia is noted.
Increased hemoglobin in a child indicates the presence of certain diseases. The causes may be pathologies such as oncology, blood clotting, intestinal obstruction, congenital heart abnormalities, cardiopulmonary failure, erythrocytosis, and burn lesions.
In any of the above cases, as a result, blood viscosity increases , its composition worsens, blood pressure rises, and the risk of heart attacks increases. The success of treatment depends on the positive dynamics of the disease, which caused an increase in hemoglobin in the blood.