IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN CHILDHOOD AND THE ROLE OF PARENTERAL IRON REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN ITS TREATMENT
Keywords:
children, anemia, iron, parenteral iron therapyAbstract
Globally, iron deficiency remains the leading cause of anemia in childhood. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) demonstrates a bimodal age distribution, with the highest prevalence during infancy and adolescence. The main etiological factors include inadequate dietary iron intake, chronic blood loss, malabsorption, and chronic diseases associated with dysregulation of iron metabolism. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the therapeutic management of IDA, including the use of parenteral iron replacement therapy. The principal advantages of parenteral iron therapy are the avoidance of gastrointestinal adverse effects related to oral administration and bypassing the intestinal mucosal barrier. This explains its indications in pediatric patients, including inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, severe iron deficiency anemia requiring hospitalization, and other chronic inflammatory conditions. Knowledge of indications, safety considerations, and appropriate referral is essential for general practitioners in daily clinical practice. Intravenous iron infusions have evolved from low-efficacy, high-risk interventions into a safe therapeutic alternative with expanding indications in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
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