ANAEMIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1938, Page 8

ANAEMIA

IN.BABIES AND CHILDREN. SUNLIGHT AND SPECIAL DIET NECESSARY. While it is true that anaemia is more common in women approaching middle age than among the community generally, it is far more common than is generally realised among children and babies. There are two distinct forms of anaemia. In one there is a shortage of the iron conveying substance in each corpuscle, though the total number of corpuscles is normal. In the other or more serious form there is a shortage of red corpuscles due to a breakdown in the mechanism that builds the corpuscles. This means that there is an abnormality of the liver spleen and bone marrow. In the case of children the anaemia differs from that of adults, and is of a type intermediate between these forms. Anaemia is often a primary disease arising from unknown causes, but the more usual type is secondary to some chronic or acute general disease.

Iron and Sunlight. In the treatment of anaemia of childhood iron is necessary in most cases, but in those caused by a breakdown in the manufacture of corpuscles liver must be given. The cases that need iron are far more common than the other. Iron is easily taken, but it causes gastric disturbance in some cases. Liver is useless in most cases, but even in suitable cases it has to be taken raw or in the form of an extract.

Apart from medicines, treatment aiming at improvement in the general health is essential. This consists of fresh air and sunlight. In summer the best treatment is to allow the child to play in light clothing on a beach. The effect of sunlight can be overdone, and it is always wrong to allow actual sunburn to be inflicted, especially in the case of a fair-complexioned child. In winter, playing in the sunlight can usually be arranged without danger if the child is reasonably well clothed and kept from strong winds.

Careful Dieting Essential. The food is extremely important. The chief natural sources of iron are meat and eggs. As the digestion is so often poor, care must be exercised in the selection of food. The best form of meat is beef or mutton, either grilled, roast, or boiled. Any child of two or older can have red meat, and young babies can be given fresh beef juice (not beef tea, which is practically useless). The meat juice is made by cutting steak or gravy beef very finely, sprinkling with a little salt, and squeezing the juice with a lemon squeezer or between two plates with a weight. Fried, re-cooked meat or preserved meats are not suitable. Eggs should be boiled, poached, or coddled, and not fried.

In addition, the child should have vitamin-containing foods in the form of fruits, fruit juices, tomatoes and green vegetables. The latter should be pureed for the very young. Green vegetables, especially spinach, have a great reputation for the iron they are supposed to contain, but the quantity is so minute that it is negligible. The virtue of green vegetables lies in other properties, and not in the iron.