Anaemia advice please

[becaroo]

My 3.5 yr old ds has just been diagnosed via a blood test with anaemia. He is being referred to the local Childrens hospital for further tests. Am VERY concerned..I know it could be his diet (which is diabolical) but I googled childhood anaemia and it came up with lots of scary things like leukaemia. I have been giving him a tonic with iron in it and a vitamin syrup with omega 3 in since saturday which I hope will help...Any advice or tips really gratefully received...

OJ with food will help him absorb the iron

If you give him tea it will reduce the absorbtion so best avoided (no clue when people give kids tea as mine is under 2)

Also sneak as many dark green vegetables into him as you can. It could be B12 deficiency related if his diet is low in veg. I also second the thing about orange juice and vitamin C containing food generally- Vit C increases the absorption rate of the iron in food. Also make sure he eats red meat at least once a week (a good ground lean steak burger might appeal)

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He has been constantly unwell since end of Nov (tonsilitis, coughs, chest infections etc) and have been worried about the amount of antibiotics he has been on. He has been very tired, pale, cranky and lethargic - very unlike his usual self. He had neutripenia as a baby (low platelet count) and my main worry was that it had come back. My problem with the diet aspect is that he WILL NOT eat any of the iron rich foods eg: red meat, eggs, green veg & the only thing he eats with iron in is wholemeal bread. Will only drink water or warm milk so no chance of orange juice. Have tried ready made sqaushes, smoothies, milkshakes you name it. Hoping this tonic I bought which has iron in will help.

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I know what you mean...have banned myself from the google browser! He is currently being referred to the childrens hospital so should hear within the next couple of weeks about an appointment. He was under the paediatricians there till he was two and I thought we were finished with the blood tests, clinic appointments etc....which is also partly why I am so upset. Seems like such a step backwards for us. Just worried I guess......