Living With Anemia

Anemia can often be treated and/or controlled. Treatment may lead to benefits such as increased energy and activity level, improved quality of life, and longer life. It is very important to seek prompt diagnosis and treatment if you have signs and symptoms of anemia.

With treatment, acute anemia may last only a day or a short time. If anemia is due to a chronic or inherited disease, the effects can be ongoing or lifelong. Severe anemia or ongoing anemia that is untreated can be life threatening.

Children and Teenagers With Anemia

Because of their rapid growth and development, infants and young children have a greater need for iron. Screening for anemia is recommended for preterm and low-birth-weight babies less than 6 months of age.

If your child has anemia, his or her doctor should inquire about possible exposure to lead and provide guidance about a healthy diet. Parents should talk with their child’s doctor or health care provider about a healthy diet and adequate sources of iron, vitamins B12 and C, and folate. Iron supplements should be given only if they are prescribed, and directions for giving supplements should be followed carefully. Fad foods and diets should be avoided.

Teenagers also are at risk for anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia, because of their growth spurts. Routine screenings for anemia should begin in adolescence and be done at least every 5–10 years. Older children and teens with certain types of severe anemia may be more susceptible to injury or infections. Your child’s doctor can advise about restrictions, such as not taking part in contact sports.

In addition, girls begin to menstruate and lose iron with each monthly period. Annual screenings for anemia and appropriate followup should be done for girls and women at increased risk for anemia due to:

• Excessive blood loss from menstruation or other causes
• Low iron intake
• A history of anemia

Medical Care for Pregnant and Post-Childbirth Women

During pregnancy, anemia can develop due to deficiencies of iron and folate and from a change in the concentration of the blood. During the first 6 months of pregnancy, the fluid portion (plasma) of a woman’s blood increases faster than the number of red blood cells (RBCs), diluting the blood and causing the hematocrit level to fall.

Pregnant women should be screened for anemia at the first prenatal visit and receive routine followup as part of ongoing prenatal care. Severe anemia increases the risk of having a preterm birth and a low-birth-weight baby.

Women should be tested for anemia 4–6 weeks after delivery (postpartum), particularly if:

• During pregnancy, the woman had anemia that continued during the last 3 months (third trimester) of pregnancy.
• The woman had excessive blood loss during pregnancy, childbirth, or after childbirth.
• The woman had a multiple birth.

Older Adults

Anemia in older adults is often caused by chronic disease, iron deficiency, and/or generally poor nutrition. Although anemia in older adults usually occurs with other medical problems, the signs and symptoms are often nonspecific and may be overlooked.

• For anemia resulting from cancer or kidney disease, or from treating those illnesses, your doctor may prescribe epoetin (the man-made form of the hormone erythropoietin that stimulates formation of RBCs in bone marrow).
• Your doctor also may prescribe iron, vitamin, or folic acid supplements.