Three cases have been presented to be to review regarding a potential blood disorder:

o Amy, a 4-year-old Caucasian female, has been complaining of being tired all the time. She is pale and a picky eater. Her mother is a single mom with a small budget to feed a large family. Amy only eats pasta, breads, and hot dogs, and drinks only artificial fruit punch.

Certainly, it is possible that Amy may have symptoms of early childhood diabetes, particularly viewing her diet, but it is likely that she is suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Her diet is not varied, it does not include fresh vegetables or meats (mostly carbohydrates), and her fatigue and pale nature make it likely that she is not getting enough iron in her bloodstream to produce healthy blood cells which will transport oxygen and nutrients. Because there is insufficient iron in the bloodstream, hemoglobin cannot be formed, which limits proper blood physiology.

Symptoms include pallor (reduction of oxygenated blood), weakness, and fatigue. Although it develops slowly, untreated it can develop into severe breathing trauma, hair loss, and fainting symptoms.

Fortunately, even on Amy’s mother’s tight budget, turning this around is relatively easy. Increase the amount of available iron in Amy’s diet, through a good quality children’s vitamin that also includes a higher than normal dose of Vitamin C and lecithin. Lower the pasta intake, or at least insist that it be eaten with red meat, increase the amount of eggs in the diet, as well as insisting on salads of green, leafy vegetables, and even adding broccoli, peas, etc. to the pasta. Adding nuts (walnuts especially), blueberries and raisins to a cereal diet will also help Amy.

References:

http://www.mamashealth.com/nutrition/anemia.asp

Garrison, C. (2003), The Iron Disorders Institute Guide to Anemia, Cumberland.

o Marcus is a