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Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders / Iron Metabolism and Disorders · Journal article
Sas Journal of Medicine · August 29, 2026
A consensus or society position rather than new primary data.
This is a narrative review summarizing the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of pediatric iron deficiency anemia. It presents consensus recommendations on first-line oral iron therapy, intravenous iron for selected cases, and preventive strategies including maternal iron optimization, delayed cord clamping, and screening; however, it reports no new primary data or comparative evidence to support a specific clinical change.
Journal article. Infants, children, and adolescents globally, with particular emphasis on high-risk and susceptible populations..
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency and leading cause of anemia worldwide in infants, children, and adolescents Etiology is multifactorial: inadequate dietary iron intake, increased iron requirements during growth, chronic blood loss, and impaired intestinal absorption Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic iron deficiency to fatigue, pallor, impaired cognitive performance, behavioral disturbances, and reduced physical capacity
No specific prevalence figures, mortality rates, or treatment outcomes reported
Clinicians should recognize that pediatric IDA has multifactorial causes and variable presentation; diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation with iron studies; and management follows a stepwise approach prioritizing oral iron with intravenous options for specific circumstances. Prevention through maternal optimization, feeding practices, and targeted supplementation is emphasized as essential to reduce long-term neurodevelopmental and growth impacts.
A narrative review synthesizing epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of pediatric iron deficiency anemia, presenting expert recommendations on prevention and treatment without reporting new primary evidence.
Clinicians should recognize that pediatric IDA has multifactorial causes and variable presentation; diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation with iron studies; and management follows a stepwise approach prioritizing oral iron with intravenous options for specific circumstances. Prevention through maternal optimization, feeding practices, and targeted supplementation is emphasized as essential to reduce long-term neurodevelopmental and growth impacts.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
What is missing. This record has no reported figures. That is a gap in the analysis, not a judgement about the study.
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia worldwide, affecting infants, children, and adolescents disproportionately. IDA remains a significant public health concern because of its high prevalence and its potential impact on growth, neurodevelopment, cognitive function, physical performance, and quality of life. The etiology of pediatric IDA is multifactorial and includes inadequate dietary iron intake, increased iron requirements during periods of rapid growth, chronic blood loss, and impaired intestinal iron absorption. Clinical manifestations vary according to age and disease severity and may range from asymptomatic iron deficiency to fatigue, pallor, impaired cognitive performance, behavioral disturbances, and reduced physical capacity. Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment and laboratory investigations, including complete blood count and iron studies, with serum ferritin serving as the most sensitive indicator of iron deficiency. Oral iron replacement therapy remains the first-line treatment for most children, while intravenous iron is reserved for selected cases. Prevention strategies include optimization of maternal iron status during pregnancy, delayed umbilical cord clamping, appropriate infant feeding practices, iron supplementation for high-risk groups, and routine screening of susceptible populations. Early recognition, timely intervention, and effective preventive measures are essential to reduce the burden of IDA and its long-term consequences in pediatric populations.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.