Anemia in Premature Infants
Anemia is a shortage of red blood cells. Since red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, anemia can deprive the body of needed oxygen. Low oxygen levels (oxygenation) in a premature infant can lead to medical complications or make complications worse.
Common causes of anemia in premature infants include:
When Should Kids Learn to Read, Write, and Do Math?
At one time or another, most parents wonder how their child is stacking up in school. Part of answering that is knowing when kids should learn to read, write, and do different kinds of math? Ross A. Thompson, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis tells WebMD there is a wide range of normal variation in many areas for young children. This can make it difficult, he says, to tell if a delay is really a problem. Thompson also says that measuring children against defined...
Read the When Should Kids Learn to Read, Write, and Do Math? article > >
- Blood loss from repeat blood draws and testing.
- Inability to produce enough red blood cells, causing "anemia of prematurity." Around the time of the due date, the infant's body becomes mature enough to produce sufficient red blood cells, and the anemia improves.
Mild anemia may not require treatment. More severe anemia is treated with blood transfusions or with a medicine (erythropoietin) that improves the body's ability to produce red blood cells.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Today in Children’s Health
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.