Patient's question:
Hello! My son is now 3 years and 3 months old, born prematurely at 36 weeks. Two months after birth, his hemoglobin level was 89 g/L, and his blood test results showed microcytic hypochromic anemia. He took "ferrous gluconate" for about one to two weeks, but had to stop due to bloating.At six months, his hemoglobin was still around 90 g/L. At that time, he was given "Jianpi Shengxue Granules" according to the recommended dosage on the instructions. He sometimes stopped taking it when he had a cold and continued for about a year. However, his hemoglobin only increased to around 110 g/L. His MCH was 19.3, MCHC 298.9, MCV 64.5, hematocrit 0.38, and red blood cell distribution width 13.7.
I then stopped the medication for a while, but unexpectedly, after about six months, his hemoglobin dropped to around 100 g/L. I checked his serum ferritin level, which was 112.6. He then started taking "Fervitin" for 2-3 months, but his hemoglobin only increased to around 110 g/L, and the microcytic hypochromic anemia did not improve.
Doctor's answer:
Iron supplementation is generally recommended after hemoglobin levels return to normal, followed by about 3 months of continued supplementation. Simultaneously, iron deficiency often has underlying causes, and children frequently exhibit picky eating habits. Correcting the underlying cause is essential to prevent recurrence. If iron deficiency anemia is confirmed, supplementing with iron is the most effective treatment.