In medicine, anemia is understood as a disease in which there is a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood and a decrease in the number of red blood cells. According to experts, this disease is currently quite common. It can be diagnosed absolutely at any age. In this article, we will talk about why anemia can develop in a newborn, as well as how to deal with it.
Reasons
Today, experts identify several primary factors leading to the development of the disease. So, anemia in a newborn can be diagnosed for the following reasons:
- hereditary predisposition;
- large blood loss at the time of delivery (the placenta separated prematurely from the walls of the uterus, there was a rupture of the umbilical cord);
- early birth (premature baby);
- hemolytic disease;
- intrauterine infection (e.g. rubella, herpes/syphilis, toxoplasmosis, etc.).
Symptoms
First of all, it should be noted that, as a rule, anemia in a newborn develops slowly, thereforeand primary signs appear only with time. Initially, there is a decrease in appetite in the crumbs, then the so-called cyanosis of the skin is observed. The liver slightly increases in size, the stool becomes clayey and dry. It is noteworthy that if anemia was diagnosed in a newborn in severe form, then first of all, hemoglobin drops sharply, but the number of red blood cells can remain normal for a long time. Experts warn that it is very important to identify the disease at the earliest stages. The thing is that with fairly rapid dehydration and diarrhea, the blood begins to thicken rapidly, as a result, the disease remains unrecognized.
Diagnosis of anemia
In some cases, mild degrees of the disease may not be clinically manifested for a long time, so laboratory data play a huge role in the diagnosis. So, if the hemoglobin level is below 110 g / l, and the color index does not exceed 0.8, then we can talk about the presence of an ailment in the body.
Anemia in newborns. Treatment
According to experts, therapy in this case implies without fail the elimination of the cause of the disease, the normalization of the diet (reducing the amount of milk and the use of various complementary foods), individual treatment, and the inclusion of iron in the diet. As a rule, in the early stages, it is possible to almost completely restore the condition of the baby in just seven to eight weeks.
If the disease develops rapidly, more serious measures will be required. First of all, stimulation of the body is prescribed. For these purposes, iron preparations are prescribed, the use of the liver is recommended, and hemo- and enzyme therapy is also carried out.
Preventive measures
According to experts, in order to avoid such a diagnosis as anemia in a newborn, prevention of the disease should be carried out during pregnancy. The expectant mother should take the vitamins recommended by the doctor.
