Pediatric Anemia Screenings in Northern Virginia
Anemia is an extremely common blood disorder that causes a dysfunction or shortage of red blood cells. These blood cells are essential, as they carry oxygen to various tissues throughout the body and keep them in proper, healthy condition.
Common Symptoms
Individuals with this blood disorder are likely to experience a variety of unique symptoms including:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Rapid breathing
- General fatigue
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pale coloring to the skin
- Pounding within the ears
- Frequent headaches
- Fainting
- Cold hands and/or feet
- Poor appetite
- Developmental deficiencies in children
Conditions Associated with Anemia
It is possible for a person to develop anemia at any point in their life, though the risk for this blood disorder generally grows greater as we grow older. Infants can also have anemia from the time that they are born, which is why routine pediatric screenings performed at PediatriCare of Northern Virginia are so important in order to identify and begin treating any number of congenital health conditions.
Many people are at an increased risk for developing anemia during their lifetime due to several related conditions and disorders including:
- Liver disease
- Thyroid disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Various forms of cancer
- Kidney disease
- Multiple types of autoimmune disease
The Anemia Screening Process
In order to detect early issues with anemia that may have gone undiagnosed, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children complete a hemoglobin test at approximately one year of age. This test involves analyzing a blood sample from the patient to determine whether or not they have iron deficiency anemia, which is by far the most common type of anemia in both children and adults.
This simple test is important in many ways, but most particularly because an iron deficiency can stunt the growth and development of young children. Likewise, there are many symptoms that can result from untreated cases of anemia in adults.
Schedule Your Child’s Anemia Test at PediatriCare
If you suspect that your child may have anemia, or if you have yet to test your child for anemia, please call (703) 330-3939 to schedule an appointment with one of our pediatricians today. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online through our secure form. With such simple testing and treatment options available, there is no reason to ignore symptoms of anemia and to continue suffering from the side effects of this common blood disorder.