Vikas Bamel

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April 10

Importance of Iron for Kids

Iron is essential for your child’s development, and an iron deficiency can affect your child’s health and growth — and can even lead to anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is relatively common among children and occurs when hemoglobin in the blood is less than the optimal level. Iron deficiency usually occurs for three main reasons: Poor diet. Children are at higher risk for iron deficiency because of their higher need for iron. Simply put, a diet that’s poor in sources of iron can lead to iron deficiency. And don’t overdo the milk! A diet that features an excess amount of milk, which is a poor source of iron, can place a child at risk for iron deficiency. Loss of blood. Causes of blood loss can range from a stomach ulcer (which is not common in children) to chronic bowel inflammation to a parasitic infestation like hook worm. Inability to absorb adequate iron from food. This can occur with conditions such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.