Patient's question:
Doctor, may I ask a question? The baby is now 22 months old. Last month, he had a fever twice every week. It doesn't look like a cold, but after taking fever-reducing medicine, he was better by the third day. The baby has had anemia since birth. I read that anemia and sudden fever are initial symptoms of leukemia. It's so scary. Is that right, doctor? Thank you for clarifying?Doctor's answer:
Anemia is not a single disease; iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type. The diagnosis is confirmed through a careful examination of blood routine test results, where hemoglobin levels are below the normal range. If the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is reduced and serum iron test results are low, iron-deficiency anemia can be diagnosed. Oral iron supplementation is the best treatment option. Common medications include ferrous succinate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous dextran. Taking these medications after meals reduces side effects. It is recommended to consume iron-rich foods such as lean meat, pork liver, laver, and black fungus. If the test results are normal, the possibility of thalassemia should still be considered.