Get To Know The Characteristics Of Anemia In Babies And How To Prevent It

JAKARTA - Preventing anemia in babies is an important step to support optimal growth and development.

Prevention efforts can start from pregnancy to early years of child life, including by providing exclusive breast milk, high nutritional food of iron, and iron supplementation in risky age groups.

The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) underlines the importance of recognizing the symptoms, causes, and handling iron deficiency anemia (ADB) in infants.

Anemia in babies is characterized by lower than normal hemoglobin levels according to age and racial factors. This is generally due to the unbalanced production of red blood cells or the body's need for iron that is not met.

According to Prof. Dr. dr. Harapan Parlindungan Ringoringo, Sp.A, Subsp.H.Onk(K), who is a member of the IDAI Oncology Hematology Coordination Unit, there are four main factors that cause anemia in infants.

"Aemia has low levels of hemoglobin according to age and race, and this happens because of excessive production of eritists resulting in reduced hemoglobin," said IDAI Oncology Hematology Coordination Unit (UKK) Member Prof. Dr. dr. Harapan Parlindungan Ringoringo, Sp.A, Subsp.H.Onk(K) as quoted by ANTARA.

First, low iron reserves since birth, such as in babies with low birth weight, twins, or children from mothers who experience anemia while pregnant.

Second, inadequate iron intake due to delays in providing additional food or consumption of low-iron foods of Fe-Heme type.

In addition, very rapid growth, repeated infections, and nutritional absorption disorders such as entertainment or malnutrition, can also trigger anemia. In these conditions, the baby may show symptoms such as easy fussyness, fatigue, heart palpitations, inactiveness while playing, to decrease appetite. Other physical signs include a pale face and lips, the inner temple looks white, and the change in the shape of the nail becomes curved.

One of the characteristics of babies with iron deficiency anemia is a slippery tongue and abnormally curved nails. This condition needs to be watched out for because the impact is not only physical, but also related to aspects of brain development and behavior.

Anemia in untreated babies can lead to motor development disorders, cognitive impairment, hearing and vision problems, to obstacles in the process of mitlinization (forming a neural protective layer). In the long term, this can affect children's achievements and reduce the quality of human resources.

As an anticipatory measure, IDAI has suggested that since 2011 all children, especially those aged 0-2 years, should receive iron supplementation. Exclusive breast milk since birth, followed by breast milk companion foods enriched in iron and formification foods, are highly recommended. Children should also eat foods that can help absorb iron such as chicken liver, fish, and high fruit vitamin C.

In addition to primary prevention through nutrition, secondary prevention is also important, namely through screening of hemoglobin levels, early diagnosis, and proper medical treatment if the child is indicated to have ADB.

Prof. Hope also adds that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends universal laboratory screening for anemia at the age of about 12 months for children who appear healthy, to detect early and prevent long-term impacts.