-
Deficiency Screening
Deficiency Screening is an important tool to help prevent iron deficiency in infants and toddlers.
-
Iron-rich Foods
Iron-rich Foods establishes a statewide universal screening for critical congenital heart disease in newborns using pulse oximetry.
-
Provider Education
Provider Education to increase knowledge about iron deficiency can help address this public health challenge.
Iron Deficiency in Infants and Toddlers
Iron is an essential nutrient that is critical for bodily functions. Iron deficiency (ID) is a state in which there is not enough iron to maintain the function of tissues in the body, including the brain and muscles. ID is distinguished from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) based on the duration of the low iron levels. If severe or longer term, ID can progress toward IDA.
In the United States, ID can affect more than 10% of children in certain at-risk populations. ID and IDA in infancy and childhood can have wide-ranging consequences for the developing child, including brain, behavioral and motor effects. In 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended universal IDA screening at all 12-month well-child checks in the attempt to avoid these consequences of iron deficiency.2
Frank R. Greer, MD
“Results of recent basic research support the concerns that iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency without anemia during infancy and childhood can have long-lasting detrimental effects on neurodevelopment. Therefore, pediatricians and other health care providers should strive to eliminate iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia.”2
Questions regarding Wisconsin IDA: wisconsinidainfo [at] pediatrics [dot] wisc [dot] edu
General website questions: wisconsinidaweb [at] pediatrics [dot] wisc [dot] edu
© 2017 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System (Wisconsin IDA Project)