Iron deficiency anemia in children younger than 1 year:the search for the formula of success of outpatient management of patients

Abstract

172 newly diagnosed cases of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children younger than 1 year who were hospitalized in the Department of Hematology Saint Petersburg Сhildren Hospital No 1 in St Petersburg 2010-2015 were analyzed. Anamnesis peculiarities of IDA and outpatient care of babies, including individual prevention of iron deficiency and ferrotherapy and the causes of identified deviations from the existing patient management recommendations were clarified. Defects of sideropenia prevention found in all examined children. The fundamental error of pediatricians during ferrotherapy were the lack of verification of the nature of anemia, violation of drug dosing iron, lack of monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, failure to comply with the required duration of the courses of therapy. Mistakes made by pediatricians during the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia are primarily a reflection of the deficit of basic knowledge of doctors on this issue. The effectiveness of the prevention of iron deficiency in infants is largely determined by the individual outpatient pediatrician, the level of his training, psychological stability and ability to engage constructively with the parents of patients. Components of success of outpatient management of patients younger than 1 year with iron deficiency are: the presence of a modern background knowledge on the issue, understanding the health and social consequences of iron deficiency for the younger generation and the desire to make a personal contribution to improving the health of children in Russia.