Anemia common among children
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Parents are urged to pay more attention to their children if they become lethargic and have difficulties in concentrating, as they may be suffering from anemia.
Anemia occurs when the number of red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin (Hb) -- a red, iron-rich protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to all of the body's muscles and organs -- falls below the normal level, and the body gets less oxygen. Therefore the body has less energy than it needs to function properly.
On average, the normal Hb range is between 12 and 18 grams per deciliter of blood (DL), varying between the sexes.
Although anemia could be caused by other factors, such as a serious disease (chronic kidney disease), blood loss or genetic defect, it is mostly triggered by vitamin or iron deficiencies.
Ascobat Gani, who heads the economic studies at the University of Indonesia's School of Public Health, said on Saturday that there are some ways to determine whether or not a child is suffering from anemia.
"Physically, you can check on their (children's) weight, as they usually weigh less than their peers due to low consumption of minerals and nutrients," he said.
Ascobat added that children with anemia also usually have difficulties in concentrating on their studies.
A mineral source is important to a human's body -- iron is proven to play a crucial role in brain function. Inadequate consumption of iron may hamper the development of the brain, resulting in poor memory and loss of concentration.
"Since the brain receives less oxygen than what is needed to function properly, it is difficult to concentrate and focus, because to do so, will consume a lot of energy from the brain," Ascobat told The Jakarta Post.
He said there were other major signs of anemia, such as extreme fatigue, weakness, respiratory problems, dizziness or fainting. Other symptoms include pale skin, including decreased pinkness of the gums, lining of the eyelids, nail beds and palms; rapid heart beat (tachycardia); feeling cold and sadness or depression.
"To find out whether or not your children are suffering from anemia, take them for a physical examination and blood test. If their Hb is below normal, there is a possibility they have anemia," Ascobat said.
If not treated immediately, anemia could worsen and lead to potentially serious, even life-threatening complications, such as tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat), or cause ventricular hypertrophy (an enlargement of the heart muscle that in turn can lead to heart failure).
"Thus, treatment options such as diet modification, or nutritional supplements or medication, should be taken into consideration," said Ascobat.
A report by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) shows that some 26,000 of Indonesian infants face an increasing risk of death each year due to iron deficiency.
The report, recently released by Unicef, further says that between around 40 percent and 60 percent of children aged from six months to 24 months suffer from iron deficiency.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the number of infants and children under five stands at around 24 million.