Question

Lynne has a 3-year old boy, Bryan. When Lynne’s sister, Laura, comes for a visit after not seeing Bryan for five months, she tells Lynne that Bryan appears very pale and wonders if he’s been sick. Lynne tells Laura that Bryan hasn’t been sick, but he’s been a very picky eater lately. He doesn’t want to eat much of his vegetables or protein, preferring to drink milk. Lynne says that Bryan sometimes drinks six to eight glasses of whole milk every day! Now a little worried, Lynne takes Bryan to the doctor for a checkup. Lab results reveal that Bryan’s hemoglobin is low, and his red blood cells are smaller in both size and number.

Question 2: Based upon Bryan’s symptoms and lab results, explain why he appears pale and how his condition could affect behavior and development in terms of compromised nutrient functions. Support your answer with data, facts, key terminology, specific examples and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Answer 1

So Bryan is 3 years old and he predominantly takes milk in his diet and doesn't eat vegetables and cereals in good quantity, and he is pale due to low haemoglobin, it is a case of nutritional anaemia which is usually iron deficiency. He is not sick as decline of haemoglobin has been a gradual process which starts at 6 months when child starts to eat complementary feeding, Animal milk is a poor source of iron so one has to include green leafy vegetables, non vegetarian food, nuts in child's diet to take care of iron supplement.

Symptoms of iron deficiency is irritability, easy fatiguability, lack of concentration, slow growth and paleness.

Blood examination shows microcytosis (small size of RBCs) and hypochromia (Low haemoglobin in RBCs)