Developmental Problems In Children
Nutritional Problems and Anemia
Bloodlessness is known as anemia in medical terminology. Anemia occurs when red blood cells (hemoglobin) fall below normal values.
Anemia in children causes significant development and health problems. In case of anemia, crankiness, fatigue and pale skin are seen.
Iron deficiency in children is one of the important factors causing anemia. By giving protective iron preparations by the doctor, it is ensured that iron tanks are filled for children and infants.
The period of physiological anemia observed after the second month in infants begins. Maintenance iron preparations are started in premature infants at two months and in term infants at four months.
Children experience some changes in the body at certain times. They need more iron in their growth and development stages. In this respect, the need for iron increases according to age.
Nutritional habits are important in preventing health problems such as anemia. Nutritional disorders in children affect the entire body system. It may cause developmental retardation.
In case of malnutrition, symptoms such as weakness or indigestion, fatigue and weakness, anxiety and moodiness are observed in children. Those with a body mass index below 18.5 are at risk of malnutrition.
In order to prevent problems such as inadequate or excessive nutrition, a certain diet is given to all age groups in children, accompanied by a pediatrician and a dietitian. As a result of the determination of vitamins in the blood by the doctor's blood analysis, the treatment process is carried out in proportion to the deficiency. In case the child refuses to eat in case of malnutrition, vitamin supplements can be given by the doctor.
In order to monitor malnutrition or overnutrition, developmental follow-up is carried out by the doctor every month until the child reaches a certain age range. Factors such as height, weight, and head circumference are controlled by tables called percentiles. Percentile tables are a scale in which normal and unusual conditions about height, weight and head circumference are followed in infants between 0-3 years of age.
These values may be excessive or low by 10%.
Visiting a doctor every six months to prevent malnutrition and developmental retardation (blood tests such as iron deficiency), after the 6th month, 9th, 12th, 18th, 24th, 30th and 36th month controls should be done. A yearly doctor's check-up is recommended for the next period.