Why Do Kids Get Anemia?
The bone marrow in a person’s body makes new red blood cells to replace the old ones that die off after about 120 days. A person may get anemia if: • not enough RBCs are made • too many RBCs are destroyed • too many RBCs are lost (bleeding) Not enough being made: There are several reasons why a person might not make enough red blood cells, but often it’s because the person isn’t getting enough iron. Iron is a nutrient found in meat, dried beans, and green leafy vegetables. Without iron, the body can’t make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying part of a red blood cell. Besides iron, your body needs the vitamins B12 and folic acid to make RBCs. You get these vitamins in the foods you eat. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, so vegetarians who don’t eat meat, eggs, or dairy products have to look for other ways to get enough of this important vitamin. Folic acid is found in a variety of foods, such as citrus fruits, green vegetables, and fortified cereals. Anemia also can develop if the bo
