Iron deficiency anemia in children

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is a global pediatric health concern, characterized by a significant drop in healthy red blood cells due to insufficient iron — a mineral vital for producing hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. When iron levels are low, the body cannot make enough functional hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues and organs. In children, this condition is particularly critical because iron is essential not only for blood production but also for brain development, growth, immune response, and energy metabolism.