Clinical Report—Diagnosis and Prevention of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Infants and Young Children (0–3 Years of Age) abstract

This clinical report covers diagnosis and prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in infants (both breastfed and formula fed) and toddlers from birth through 3 years of age. Results of recent basic research support the concerns that iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency without anemia during infancy and childhood can have longlasting detrimental effects on neurodevelopment. Therefore, pediatricians and other health care providers should strive to eliminate iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia. Appropriate iron intakes for infants and toddlers as well as methods for screening for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are presented. Pediatrics 2010;126: 000 INTRODUCTION Iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) continue to be of worldwide concern. Among children in the developingworld, iron is the most common single-nutrient deficiency.1 In industrialized nations, despite a demonstrable decline in prevalence,2 IDA remains a common cause of anemia in young children. However, evenmore important than anemia itself is the indication that themore common IDwithout anemia may also adversely affect long-term neurodevelopment and behavior and that some of these effects may be irreversible.3,4 Because of the implications for pediatric health care providers and their patients, this report reviews and summarizes this information. This clinical report is a revision and extension of a previous policy statement published in 1999,5 which addressed iron fortification of formulas. This report covers diagnosis and prevention of ID and IDA in infants (both breastfed and formula fed) and toddlers aged 1 through 3 years.