Increased hemoglobin in children. Elevated hemoglobin - what does it mean?

Every parent, of course, knows that the child needs to undergo periodic medical examination. After all, many diseases do not "declare" themselves, but they can cause significant and even irreparable harm. It is important to monitor blood parameters, and if the analysis indicates increased hemoglobin in children, it is necessary to take measures. It is not necessary to panic, but it is simply necessary to take care of an additional study of the state of health.

What you need to know

Before treating your baby, find out why it is so important for his health. Hemoglobin is a complex protein containing iron. It is able to form bonds with oxygen. Thus, it transfers O₂ into every cell of the body. It is found in red blood cells and gives them a bright red color. The hemoglobin protein attaches oxygen to itself from the alveoli of our lungs and carries it throughout the body. At the same time, the "smart carrier" is able to replenish cells about ₂ where necessary. And excess carbon dioxide takes it away and removes it from the body.

Did the tests confirm elevated hemoglobin? What does it mean? In fact, in some cases it's just age-related changes and even increased physical activity. Well, if everything banal does not fit, high figures indicate an increased viscosity of the baby's blood.

How the analysis is performed

As a rule, the study is included in the general blood test, which is taken from the patient's vein. The result is evaluated in the laboratory. It is worth considering that the platelet level in children is constantly changing, and this is due to age-related changes. Therefore, before raising a panic, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the norms of hemoglobin in the blood (g/l):

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1. At birth – 140-225.
2. The first week of life – 130-215.
3. 1 month – 100-180.
4. 3-6 months – 90-135.
5. From 6 months. up to 1 year – 100-140.
6. 1-2 years – 100-145.
7. Up to 6 years – 110-150.
8. Up to 12 – 115-150.
9. Up to 15 years – 115-155.
10. At 18 years – 150-160.

If the tests showed a deviation from the norm by 20-30 units, you can claim that the baby has increased hemoglobin. In a one-year-old child, the marginal norm, for example, is 145 g/l, but 165 g/l signals the accumulation of red blood cells in the blood. It is necessary to undergo a thorough medical examination. Elevated hemoglobin in children may indicate the presence of many diseases.

Symptoms

How to recognize the signs of changes in the level of platelets in a child? Observe the behavior of the baby. If he began to get tired quickly, constantly irritated, crying for no reason, it is worth contacting a doctor. There may be pallor of the skin or, conversely, redness and even minor bruises.

Sometimes small patients have dizziness and headache, in particularly severe cases there is a sudden loss of consciousness. Listen to the pulse – sometimes tachycardia or arrhythmia is the first sign of the disease. Blood passes through the vessels more slowly and insufficiently supplies the heart with oxygen. Elevated hemoglobin in children often causes insomnia and general exhaustion of the body.

What can high erythrocyte counts signal

In most cases, the results of high hemoglobin levels indicate the presence of concomitant diseases. That is, some organs do not work correctly. The main "culprits":

1. Improper blood clotting.
2. Erythrocytosis is an abnormally high level of red blood pigments, sometimes this phenomenon is caused by oncological diseases.
3. Congenital heart defects.
4. Burns.
5. Dehydration of the body.
6. Intestinal obstruction.
7. Living a child at high altitudes (relative to sea level), the less oxygen the body receives, the more diligently it accumulates it and produces red blood cells.
8. Lung problems.

Elevated hemoglobin - what does it mean? The danger is that a sharp increase in red blood cells increases the amount of blood, it is quite viscous, and its passage through the veins and arteries is much more difficult. If this situation is not corrected, the child may have blood clots. And this is deadly.

How to replenish iron

As you already know, hemoglobin is a special protein that "does not work" without iron. First of all, it is necessary to fill the deficit in the baby's body of this metal. Or just let it function properly. Doctors say that sometimes the use of additional drugs containing the necessary substance does not help. So what's the problem? Most medicines contain 3-valent iron, but this form is quite difficult to digest by the body. May cause constipation, heaviness in the abdomen.

But dairy products contain casein protein, which "sticks together" with iron and does not allow it to be properly absorbed. That is why it is so important to exclude all products of this group. Also, the increased acidity of the child's stomach prevents the metal from being absorbed.

Proper diet

Why does the child have elevated hemoglobin? Only a doctor can answer this question professionally. The problem is that the usual treatment of this disease is not suitable for children. After all, diluting the blood is very dangerous! Therefore, it is necessary to create the right conditions for the blood to become thinner and easier to pass through the veins and arteries. Proper nutrition will help you with this:

1. It is necessary to reduce the intake of animal fats. They increase cholesterol levels and can lead to the formation of plaques on the walls of blood vessels. Offer your child only lean white meat, fish, and various seafood.
2. Be sure to eat salads from greens. They dilute the blood well and replenish the level of vitamins.
3. Exclude dairy products, casein prevents the absorption of iron.
4. Try to give the child as much water as possible. By itself, the liquid can thin the blood.
5. Fresh fruits and juices.
6. Cereal porridges.
7. Raw unprocessed vegetables.

But elevated hemoglobin in children, the causes of which are purely individual for each patient, cannot be restored without consulting a doctor. Only a doctor can prescribe an adequate diet and the necessary vitamins. In no case should you offer your child drugs containing iron and folic acid without a doctor's recommendation! Otherwise, the consequences can be very depressing.

Take more walks with your baby in the fresh air, maintain optimal humidity in the room.

Official treatment

The patient's age is an important obstacle to the treatment of elevated hemoglobin. You can't dilute the blood. Doctors prescribe both proper nutrition and special vitamin complexes that allow normalizing blood viscosity. A fairly effective way is the use of leeches - the so-called "bloodletting" effect. Also, this method allows you to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, which prevents the formation of blood clots. After 5-7 sessions, hemoglobin returns to normal, the effect persists for six months.

Older children can be prescribed the procedure of erythrocytapheresis. This measure removes excess red blood cells from the blood, but plasma and all other elements are returned to the patient's body. Remember that elevated hemoglobin levels in children must be brought back to normal. Doctors say that neglected cases are much more difficult to treat.

Afterword

Dear parents, your main task is to monitor the health of the child. Do not ignore the symptoms, regularly undergo medical examinations. Elevated hemoglobin in children is quite rare and can be caused by malnutrition or dehydration. But do not forget about the danger of blood clots and various diseases. Therefore, it is so important to start treatment on time. In children, the recovery of the body is faster than in adults.