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Children's health

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Original poster

DD2 referred to a paediatrician because she's aneamic. Bit worried.

15 replies

Artichokes · 26/03/2011 07:01

DD2 is 2 years old.

For about 8 weeks she's been complaining of stomach pain on and off. Her energy has really dipped, she's gone from running about everywhere to staying still and not even trying to keep up with her sister.. She is also much more prone to tears than normal and her appetite isn't great.

Yesterday I took her to the GP for the third time to check there was no sinister cause. Last time they did a stool sample but it was clear. This time the GP said she is anaemic and needs to see a paed. He also said her stool sample had been noticeably pale which needed further investigation. However, he reassured me that he didn't think it was likely to be anything "really sinister".

I know anaemic can be caused by very scary things like leukaemia and am trying to block that out of my mind. The GP said nothing really sinister. Does anyone know what else could cause these symptoms? Especially the pale poo which he saw as significant?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

urbanewarrior · 26/03/2011 08:05

Oh arti how worrying for you. On the pale poo - both DS and DD have had this when they've been ill. I got really worried about DS because he had this for a week or so but then just as I was going to take him to Drs it went back to normal. DD gets it when she has any kind of bug. Not terribly assuring comment from GP. When will you get to see the paed? could the anaemia be because she's not been eating very well? I remember from when DS was a baby that it was pretty easy for them not to get enough iron. Thinking of you all and hope you get some reassurance soon.

M44 · 26/03/2011 08:12

WHen ds2 was 18 months he had a mild viral infection-so mild we didn't notice it.......but the result was an interruption to his bone marrow. He halved his red cell count, lost his white cell count and dropped his platelets to a very low level. BUT it all resolved spontaneously after 6 weeks.....no transfusions required.

It is very frightening and one of the worst periods in our lives as we watched and waited with every blood test and appt. When I look back at photos of him taken then -he is grey in pallor.

It really can be as simple as rogue virus attacking the body.NOne the less a difficult time-many thoughts are with you.

If she was dangerously anaemic she would have been sent to hospital immediately.......ds2 was looked at by the dr and she said can you make your way to A and E or shall I call an ambulance........?

So hang in there and I hope things improve and that you are seen quickly.

urbanewarrior · 26/03/2011 08:20

Gosh M44 that sounds frightening. Must have been dreadful for you. V good point about if Dr was worried it would have been straight to hospital.

stealthcat · 26/03/2011 08:21

Anaemia can be really common in toddlers, and leaukaemia certainly isnt the most likely cause. GPs are pretty quick to refer children to paediatricians, at least now you will hopefully get to the bottom of what is causing your DDs symptoms.

TheProvincialLady · 26/03/2011 08:24

Artichokes I don't know if you remember but my DS and your DD were born on the same day

DS had a virus that took a long time to clear. He was anaemic and his poos were pale and slimy for weeks. He got better by himself and is just as energetic as ever. It was a huge worry at the time but honestly, this is far more likely to be something like that than it is something really serious like leukaemia. Will be thinking of you.

pinkytheshrinky · 26/03/2011 08:29

Have you thought about coeliacs disease? This can cause anaemia because of lack of food absorption. Also you don't need a raft os symptoms to have this as my 2 dd's have it and one was very symptomatic as a toddler and they got better (she was diagnosed as 6) and the other had no symptoms at all and was only diagnosed because she is a diabetic and tested as a matter of course.

Original poster

Artichokes · 26/03/2011 09:01

Thanks everyone. I know I jumped to the unlikely worst case scenario although that's what was keeping me awake at 2am it seems silly now in the cold light of day. I didn't realise anaemia was common in toddlers.

It's very true that the GP would have sent us to A&E if he was worried. I will hold onto that.

This morning I have noticed two mouth ulcers on her tongue. All her symptoms are small but when added together they feel worrying.

OP posts:

brambleschooks · 26/03/2011 09:15

Hi OP, I was going to mention coeliac as well, the pale poo and tummy pain made me wonder. It could just be a virus, hope so.
I will just mention that my son had a lot of unexplained tummy pains (bad ones) for a few months before he got to the sat of drinking and weeing lots which made it very clear that he is t1 diabetic. 2 doctors and a specialist missed the diabetes before it got to the acute stage.

Hope it turns out to be something very temporary, if you see what I mean!

Hi Pinky, do we know each other from another place?

Original poster

Artichokes · 26/03/2011 09:30

I hadn't thought of coeliacs. But the DDs paternal grandmother has it and I just googles and it can be hereditary. In fact the symptoms really fit as the NHS website says pale poos that are hard to flush (DD2's poos always float), tummy pain, aneamia, run down and even ulcers. But DD doesn't have sloppy poos. They are soft but not runny. Isn't runny poo a key part of coeliacs?

OP posts:

SWImmes · 26/03/2011 16:53

Hi - when my son was 5 (he's nearly 10 now) he started getting frequent nosebleeds, he's also quite pale skinned. I took him to the pede where I live (not in Uk) and he had blood tests which showed anemia. We were given liquid iron supplement to take every day for 6 months and then had to go back to re-assess then. When we went back his levels were normal again.

I think anemia seems really common in young kids and we always think the worst (I certainly did with his nosebleeds) but most of the time it's easily treated and not sinister.

Lucylu5 · 26/03/2011 16:58

My daughter started to eat sand! Took her to gp and she was anemic.....course of iron and she is right as rain and no more sand eating either phew!
Hope all goes well for you and your little one x

piprabbit · 26/03/2011 16:58

I thought that coeliac poos were generally described as large and soft - not especially runny.

I hope your DD gets some useful help soon.

brambleschooks · 26/03/2011 20:38

More large and bulky pale poo. Let us know how you get on. X

tomkitten · 26/03/2011 20:46

Does sound like my dd who was diagnosed with coeliac disease at about that age, dd's poos were not runny, just very large and pale and difficult to flush. She was also anaemic, and stopped growing. Hope it turns out to be something simple (like coeliac). Good luck!

Booner · 26/03/2011 21:36

Hi Artichoke,

I would also recommend ruling out Coeliac Disease. Both my DSs were diagnosed with Coeliac Disease.

My youngest had the stomach pains, lack of energy, soft poo (very strong smelling), run down, prone to tears.

My eldest was tested just because his younger brother was diagnosed with it and he had no symptoms at all but had a positive test for Coeliac Disease.

If you already have it in the family it would be a good idea to get it checked out.

Happy to answer any questions

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