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Wiley InterScience | |||||||||
  Journal of Paediatrics and Child HealthVolume 43 Issue 7-8, Pages 513 - 521 Published Online: 16 Jul 2007 Journal compilation © 2010 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians)
Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 130K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking  REVIEW ARTICLE Policy statement on iron deficiency in pre-school-aged children Copyright © 2007 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2007 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians) KEYWORDS anaemia iron-deficiency (diagnosis, prevention and control, therapy), Australia • child • iron • New Zealand ABSTRACTAim: We aimed to develop policy in relation to three areas: (i) the diagnosis of iron deficiency; (ii) maternal–infant issues and the prevention of iron deficiency; and (iii) the treatment of iron deficiency. Methods: Within each of these topic areas we completed a literature review and developed recommendations to help direct activities of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, update paediatricians and guide clinical practice. Results: Iron deficiency can be defined using cut-off values for laboratory measures of iron status or, if an intercurrent infection is not present, by demonstrating a response to a therapeutic trial of iron. The appropriate measures of iron status vary depending upon the presence of intercurrent infection. Full-term babies are born with iron stores sufficient to meet their needs to age 4–6 months but premature infants are not. After age 6 months infants are dependent upon dietary iron from complementary foods even with continued breastfeeding. Infants <33 weeks gestation or <1800 g birthweight should receive iron from 4 weeks of age. In most settings recommended treatment of iron deficiency is with oral ferrous sulphate as a single or twice daily dose of between 3 and 6 mg/kg/day. Conclusions: Iron deficiency is prevalent and an important determinant of child health. Precise and accurate diagnosis remains challenging. Iron supplementation is required for premature and low-birthweight infants. Oral iron salts remain the recommended treatment of choice in most instances. Accepted for publication 4 March 2007. | 
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