What happens during iron deficiency anemia?

In the development of anemia, there is a definite sequence:

I stage of iron deficiency anemia in children

Reduces iron stores in the liver, spleen and bone marrow.

In parallel, the concentration of ferritin in the blood serum decreases, a latent iron deficiency develops - sideropenia without anemia. Ferritin according to modern concepts reflects the state of the total iron stores in the body, so at this stage the iron stores are significantly depleted without reducing the red blood cell (hemoglobin) fund.

II stage of iron deficiency anemia in children

Decrease in the transport of iron (its transport fund) or decrease in the saturation of transferrin by iron. At this stage, the plasma iron concentration decreases and the total iron-binding capacity of the plasma increases, the latter being due to an increase in the synthesis of transferrin in the liver with a deficiency of iron.

III stage of iron deficiency anemia in children

Reduced iron intake in the bone marrow - a violation of the formation of hemoglobin and erythrocytes. At this stage, the hemoglobin concentration in the blood and erythrocyte decreases, the hematocrit decreases and the erythrocyte diameter and shape change (microcytosis, anisocytosis), and the erythrocyte hypochromia. There is a decrease in the activity of iron-containing and iron-dependent enzymes. Reducing the number of erythrocytes and their oxygen transport capacity leads to the emergence of hypoxia, which leads to mixed acidosis with subsequent disruption of the functions of organs and systems, to the violation of metabolic processes in them.

Studies have shown that in children with iron deficiency anemia there is a deficiency of a number of vitamins - A, C, E (the latter provides the function of erythrocyte membranes), vitamin C is involved in the absorption of iron in the digestive tract, and vitamin A deficiency leads to a violation of the mobilization of iron from the liver.

Deficiency of iron leads to a decrease in the number of T-lymphocytes, the suppression of cellular immunity, which causes an increase in the viral incidence (to examine all the children who are often ill with ARI on the JJ).

With sufficient intake of iron from the mother, the child fully uses it in the first 5-6 months for growth. In the future, needs for iron are covered only with food. Predispose to the development of latent iron deficiency later introduction of vegetable puree, unilateral carbohydrate nutrition (porridge), lack of protein in the diet (later introduction of complementary foods in the form of minced meat), rickets, hypotrophy, repeated diseases.