Experts Rally to Tackle the Hidden Crisis of Childhood Iron Deficiency Anaemia

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

A multidisciplinary team of 28 clinicians from Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and India recently presented an independent expert consensus on the screening and management of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in young children across Southeast Asia and India. Their efforts were sponsored by Danone.

The consensus comes in response to the concerning findings of the Iron Strong Study 2023, which highlighted that 1 in 3 Malaysian children are at risk of anaemia.

It presents 12 evidence-based recommendations to guide healthcare practitioners and policymakers in decision making related to screening, prevention and management of IDA in young children.

FEATURED EXPERT PROFESSOR DR MUHAMMAD YAZID JALALUDIN Senior Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya

Professor Dr Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin tells us: “The release of this expert consensus represents a significant advancement in managing IDA in children. By bringing together leading experts from the region, evidence-based recommendations have been established that can greatly benefit child health.”

A CALL FOR ANNUAL NON-INVASIVE SCREENING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

According to Professor Dr Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin:

• Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in children is often underdiagnosed because mild cases often show no visible symptoms.
• However, this undetected deficiency can significantly impact growth and even irreversible consequences on a child’s brain development and future learning abilities.
• In light of this, the panel of experts has advocated for annual non-invasive anaemia screening for all children aged 1 to 5.
• The panel also emphasizes the importance of nutritional intervention, particularly the fortification of food and milk to help reduce the risk of IDA in all children.
• Additionally, the panel calls for more efforts to be made o actively educates parents and caregivers on IDA risks and prevention.

NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION IS ESSENTIAL

FEATURED EXPERT PROFESSOR DR HAMID JAN JAN MOHAMED Professor, Nutrition Programme School of Health Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia

Professor Dr Hamid Jan shares the following:

• Addressing IDA in children requires a multifaceted approach that combines early detection with comprehensive nutritional interventions.
• Incorporate a variety of iron-rich foods into a child’s diet. Such foods include lean meats, poultry, beans, and dark leafy vegetables like spinach.
• Additionally, fortified milk and foods play an important role in ensuring adequate iron intake, especially for children who may have limited access to diverse diets.
• Pairing iron-rich foods with enhancers like vitamin C-rich foods can significantly improve absorption, making it easier for a child to benefit from their iron intake.

AN ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE

Following the recommendations in the expert consensus, Danone has introduced the Iron Strong Screening Questionnaire, an online self-assessment tool developed in collaboration with a panel of paediatric and nutrition experts. This questionnaire, available in Bahasa Melayu, allows parents to assess their child’s iron intake based on age and can be found at the Danone website (links open in a new tab).