Anemia

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body are not present in sufficient numbers. Although there are other causes, the vast majority of cases of anemia are due to iron deficiency.

Symptoms

Symptoms of anemia include pallor (pale appearance), lethargy (drowsiness to unconsciousness), poor growth and a tendency to fatigue easily. Other symptoms of anemia exist which are less common.

Treatment

If your child is diagnosed with anemia, usually an iron supplement is prescribed. The medication is usually given for several months to replenish the iron stores of the body.

Prevention

“Newborn Infants”
Iron deficiency anemia is preventable. At birth, an infant is born with extra iron reserves. By two months of age, these stores have been utilized and the child requires extra iron.  Occasionally, depending upon the nutritional status of the mother, iron supplementation is prescribed for the infant. You should consult your physician regarding recommendations for your specific child. Infants who are bottle-fed should be on formula which is fortified with iron. The use of low iron formula for infants older than two months of age is generally discouraged.

“1 & Up”

Children over the age of one should have a diet high in foods containing irons. Examples of foods high in iron are beef, pork, liver, chicken, iron fortified cereal, beans, peas, eggs, tuna, peanut butter, tomatoes, pasta, green vegetables and prune juice.

Genetic Anemia

Less commonly, there are a number of genetic (family trait) causes for anemia in a child, such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or hemoglobin E. Some of these can represent serious health risks. Be prepared to inform your physician of any forms of anemia that has occurred in your family. All infants are screened for these disorders at birth.

Ibuprofen

Dosage: Every six to eight (6-8) hours.

When To Use: Ibuprofen should be used to control high fevers which are unresponsive to acetaminophen. It can also be used to control pain and reduce inflammation.

Side Effects: May cause upset stomach, other side effects are rare.

SHOULD NEVER BE ADMINISTERED TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS.

Weight estimated Maximum Dosage Dosage Based on Children’s Suspension 100 mg/1tsp or 5ml Dosage based on Ibuprofen tablets 200mg/tablet
15 lbs. 40 mg 2 mL N/A
20 lbs. 60 mg 3 mL N/A
25 lbs. 75 mg 3.75 mL N/A
30 lbs. 90 mg 4 mL N/A
35 lbs. 100 mg 5 mL (1 tsp) N/A
40 lbs. 120 mg 6 mL N/A
45 lbs. 125 mg 6.25 mL N/A
50 lbs. 150 mg 7.5 mL (1.5 tsp) N/A
55 lbs. 160 mg 8 mL N/A
60 lbs. 180 mg 9 mL N/A
65 lbs. 200 mg 10 mL (2 tsp) 1 tablet
70 lbs. 200 mg 10 mL (2 tsp) 1 tablet
75 lbs. 225 mg 11.25 mL N/A
85 lbs. 250 mg 12.5 mL (2.5 tsp) N/A
95 lbs. 300 mg 15 mL (3 tsp) N/A
Children over the age of 12 years and adults may take ibuprofen tablets (200mg), two every 6-8 hours.

 

Benadryl

Dosage: Every four (4) hours.

When To Use: Benadryl is an antihistamine medication which is particularly good at relieving allergic symptoms. Use Benadryl for nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, itching of the nose and throat, itchy watery eyes or other respiratory allergies due to hay fever. Iti s also useful to treat itching due to any cause. Use Benadryl to treat insect bites and stings.

Side Effects: May cause drowsiness, or less commonly, agitation or insomnia. Other side effects are rare.

Children over the age of 12 years and adults may take Benadryl tablets or capsules 25mg, one (1) every six (6) hours..

Weight estimated Dosage Based on Benadryl Elixir, 12.5mg/tsp
24-35 lbs. 5 mL (1 tsp)
36-47 lbs. 7.5 mL (1.5 tsp)
48 lbs. or more 10 mL (2 tsp)

 

Acetaminophen

Dosage: Every four (4) hours.

When To Use: Acetaminophen should be used to reduce fever and relieve pain. Acetaminophen has no anti-inflammatory actions.

Side Effects: Unlike ibuprofen and aspirin which can have rare but potentially serious side effects, acetaminophen is very safe. Only if an overdose of the medication occurs is there a likelihood of any side effect. If your child takes an over-dose of acetaminophen call your physician or poison control center immediately.

Weight estimated maximum Dosage Dosage Based on Children’s Suspension 160mg/1tsp or 5mL Dosage Based on Chewable Tablets 80mg/Tablet Dosage Based on Junior Chewable Tablets 160mg/Tablet Dosage Based on Tablets 325mg/Tablet or 500mg/Tablet
10 lbs. 64 mg 2 mL N/A N/A N/A
15 lbs. 96 mg 3 mL N/A N/A N/A
20 lbs. 128 mg 4 mL N/A N/A N/A
25 lbs. 160 mg 5 mL (1 tsp) 2 tablets 1 tablets N/A
30 lbs. 192 mg 6 mL 2 tablets 1 tablets N/A
35 lbs. 240 mg 7.5 mL (1.5 tsp) 3 tablets N/A N/A
40 lbs. 272 mg 8.5 mL N/A N/A N/A
45 lbs. 288 mg 9 mL 4 tablets 2 tablets N/A
50 lbs. 320 mg 10 mL (2 tsp) 4 tablets 2 tablets 1 tablets (325mg)
55 lbs. 352 mg 11 mL 4 tablets 2 tablets 1 tablets (325mg)
60 lbs. 400 mg 12.5 mL (2.5 tsp) 5 tablets N/A N/A
65 lbs. 448 mg 14 mL 6 tablets 3 tablets N/A
70 lbs. 480 mg 15 mL (3 tsp) 6 tablets 3 tablets N/A
75 lbs. 512 mg 16 mL 6 tablets 3 tablets 1 tablets (500mg)
80 lbs. 640 mg 20 mL (4 tsp) 8 tablets 4 tablets 2 tablets (325mg)
Children over the age of 12 years old and adults may take two (2) 325mg acetaminophen tablets.

If a child has a particular high fever, increase the dosage only on the advice of your physician due to the risk of overdose and liver damage.

Dosing Guide

Guide to Your Child’s Medicines from Healthy Children on Vimeo.

Medicine DropperThis Dosing Guide gives dosages for common over-the-counter medications used in children. These medications are dosed according to weight. To calculate your child’s dose therefore, look up his weight on the Dosing Guide and read across to the proper dose for each medicine listed. If you don’t know your child’s weight and if your child is too young to stand on bathroom scales, a simple way to determine his weight is to first weigh both you and your child as you hold him. Then weigh yourself alone. Subtracting these two numbers will give you a fairly accurate weight of your child. 1 killogram  ≈ 2.2 pounds.

Please use an appropriate measuring device for your child’s medication. A kitchen spoon may not be accurate. If you do not have a measuring dropper or other dispenser, please ask your pharmacy to aid in your selection.

 

Dosing for Common Medications

 

Abbreviations

Abbreviation Measurement/Term
mg Milligram
Tsp Teaspoon
Tbsp Tablespoon
mL milliliter
cc Cubic Centimeter
dppr Dropper full
oz Ounce
prn As Needed

 

Conversions

1cc = 1mL
5mL = 1 Teaspoon
5cc = 1 Teaspoon
15mL = 1 Tablespoon
3 tsp = 1 Tablespoon
1 oz = 2 Tablespoons
1 oz = 30 mL

 

Newborn Safety

Newborn Car Safety Restraint

When your child leaves the hospital, his or her first ride must be a safe ride in a car seat. The car seat must be set in the rear facing position. A rear facing car seat must not be in a seat where the air bag may deploy.

By the time a child is one year old, weighs 20 pounds and is sitting well unsupported, the car seat may be faced forward.

According to the Arkansas Child Passenger Protection Act, which was approved February 28, 2001, a child should remain restrained in a child passenger safety seat until the child is approximately 60 pounds or about six years of age, then a safety belt is sufficient to meet the requirements of the law.

A rear facing car seat must not be in a seat where the air bag may deploy. This is very dangerous.

Crib Safety

Crib side rails should always be kept up when the infant is unattended. Crib bumpers are recommended. The distance between crib slats should be less than 2-3/8 inches. You should avoid toys and mobiles with long strings, cradle gyms that are not securely suspended and small objects in the crib. Do not place crib near a window with blinds.

Newborn Accident Prevention

  • Never leave your infant alone with young siblings or pets.
  • Your water heater thermostat should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. This is a little below the normal setting.
  • Never leave your infant alone on a bed or other surface from which he/she may roll off.
  • Never leave your infant alone in a house or in a car unattended.
  • Do not shake or jiggle your baby’s head vigorously.
  • Infant jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, rings or other types of jewelry are not recommended.
  • Do not drink hot liquids or smoke cigarettes while holding your child because you could burn your child.
  • Do not use an infant feeder to feed your child baby food or semi-solid food because of the risk of choking and aspiration of food into the trachea.
  • All infants should sleep on their back or side to lessen the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).