“Child's blood test?”

Anemia is a low red blood cell count or low hemoglobin level. This is a common encounter in children. I can tell you that there are many different types of anemia. There are many risk factors for anemia in children. The most common symptoms of anemia are pale (lips, skin, hands, under the eyelid); increased heart rate (tachycardia); breathlessness (difficult to breath); lack of energy or vertigo, specially upon standing; headaches, irritability among others. Blood tests. For anemia is hemoglobin and hematocrit to measure the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cell. This is often the first screening test for anemia. Complete blood count (CBC) is used to count the number of blood cells, called hematocrit and the level of hemoglobin in blood. CBC for iron deficiency anemia includes the following: low mean corpuscular volume (MCV), low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), elevated platelet count (greater than 450,000 uL) in many cases. The RBC count for a 7 years old child range from 11.9 – 15.0 for hemoglobin and 35% - 44% for hematocrit. Please, get in-touch to your pediatrician and or a child healthcare provider. Thank you

It depends on the overall health of the child. If hemoglobin is less than 5.0 transfusion is usually considered.

Way too many variables to give a single answer. Depands on what's being treated. Why is the child anemic? "Low iron" is only one kind of anemia. Is there active bleeding? Does the child have another disease diagnosis which is associated with the anemia? The child needs a diagnosis and if the pediatrician is not helpful, consider a second opinion.

Would not consider till HB less than 7

Address main problem and give iv iron before if needed

Avoid transfusion in kids at all costs for a variety of reasons

Peter Miller MD
202-740-1981 (c)

Transfusions are a last resort. If the anemia is due to iron deficiency then iron pills or even intravenous iron supplements are best and safest. Other ways to increase iron are cooking in a cast iron skillet, eating red meats, etc. when the hemoglobin level drops below 6 mg/dL, then transfusion may be required. But this is rare unless there is a severe underlying cause of the anemia.