Low haemoglobin levels and MCV

[SugarButterFlour]

My 5 yr old had blood tests a few weeks ago - he's had recurrent infections (particularly tonsillitis - we have an ENT referral for that) since he was a few months old. We've just received the paed consultant's letter and he's slightly anaemic, with low haemoglobin and MCV levels. (functional antibodies results are pending - not sure if this is relevant)
His ferritin levels are within normal range, but because of the low haemoglobin and MCV the consultant wants a thalassaemia screen. Are there any GPs around who could help translate this for me? I always thought anaemia was iron deficiency, but realise now that this isn't the case. (I'd phone our GP, but the practice is a bit useless.)

Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency are also types of anaemia, and they can be due to auto immune disease rather than poor diet. Both are treatable with supplements (usually injections). I'm not a GP :)

Yep, I've wondered if there's a B12 deficiency. He has a good diet generally - much better than his older brother who is hardly ever ill! He had low haemoglobin levels when he was hospitalised a few years back. I raised it with GP at the time as the hospital Dr (this was abroad) said his levels needed to he monitored - home GP shrugged it off. I'm angry at myself now for not pressing on this.

Hi, how is your little one? My son’s blood test has also revealed that he has low hemoglin. I’m really scared.