Abstract
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency affecting children and adolescents worldwide. A consistent body of epidemiological data demonstrates an increased incidence of iron deficiency at three timepoints: in the neonatal period, in preschool children, and in adolescents, where it particularly affects females.
Conclusion: This narrative review focuses on the most suggestive symptoms of iron deficiency in childhood, describes the diagnostic procedures in situations with or without anemia, and provides Swiss expert-based management recommendations for the pediatric context.
What is Known: • Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the most common challenges faced by pediatricians. • Significant progress in the diagnosis and therapy of ID has been made over the last decade. What is New: • Our expert panel provides ID management recommendations based on the best available evidence. • They include strategies for ID diagnosis and therapy, both oral and intravenous. |
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Abbreviations
- ADHD:
-
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- ATP:
-
Adenosine triphosphate
- BHS:
-
Breath-holding spells
- CHr:
-
Reticulocyte hemoglobin content
- Hb:
-
Hemoglobin
- IBD:
-
Inflammatory bowel disease
- ID:
-
Iron deficiency
- IDA:
-
Iron deficiency with anemia
- IDWA:
-
Iron deficiency without anemia
- IRIDA:
-
Iron refractory iron deficiency anemia
- IRLSSG:
-
International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group
- IUGR:
-
Intra-uterine growth retardation
- IV:
-
Intravenous
- LS:
-
List of specialties (Swiss-approved medicines, FDA/EMA equivalent)
- MCV:
-
Mean corpuscular volume
- MCH:
-
Mean corpuscular/cellular hemoglobin
- MCHC:
-
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
- NHANES:
-
National health and nutrition examination survey
- PLMD:
-
Periodic limb movement disorder
- RBC:
-
Red blood cells
- RDW:
-
Red cell distribution width
- RET-He:
-
Reticulocyte hemoglobin content
- RLS:
-
Restless legs syndrome
- SF:
-
Serum ferritin
- SPOG:
-
Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group
- sTfR:
-
Serum soluble transferrin receptor
- URIDA:
-
Unexplained refractory iron deficiency anemia
- WHO:
-
World Health Organization
- ZnPP:
-
Zinc protoporphyrin
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VM, MS, HH, NvdW, and RR reviewed and interpreted the evidence and drafted sections of the manuscript. RR wrote the final manuscript, after comprehensive editing. All authors discussed, reviewed, and agree with the final manuscript.
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Mattiello, V., Schmugge, M., Hengartner, H. et al. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency in children with or without anemia: consensus recommendations of the SPOG Pediatric Hematology Working Group. Eur J Pediatr 179, 527–545 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03597-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03597-5