Child with Pallor

Question 1

List some common causes of anaemia in children

Answer 1

• Iron deficiency
• Haemolytic (immune or non-immune e.g. G6PD)
• Idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura
• Coagulopathies
• Haemolytic disease of the newborn
• Purpura fulminans

Question 2

Outline the management of iron deficiency anaemia

Answer 2

• Identify cause
• Dietary advice - meat, legumes, green vegetables
• Ferrous gluconate (6 mg/kg/day) - best taken with orange juice

Question 3

What initial investigations might be appropriate in someone you suspect of anaemia?

Answer 3

• FBE, blood film, folic acid, B12
• Consider: iron studies, TIBC, BM aspirate, ESR/CRP (chronic disease?)

Question 4

What is the most common cause of a microcytic anaemia?

Answer 4

Iron deficiency

Question 5

What are the most common causes of a macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 5

Folate or B12 deficiency (also haemolysis)