The hematocrit is lowered in a child at 7 months. What to do if the hematocrit in a child is low

Above are the percentages, but they can also be written in the ratio of liters to liters, and then it will not look like, for example, 43%, but like 0.43 / 1, that is, 0.43 liters of red blood cells in 1 liter of blood. They can only write in numbers - 43, or 0.43.

In particular, you should not donate blood for analysis if:

  • the day before there was a strong physical activity;
  • the day before there were emotional upheavals, stress;
  • after blood loss (in this case, the analysis will show a low hematocrit, but it will not be clear whether this indicator is caused by blood loss or signals other health problems).

Remember that blood tests are done for specialists, not for you, so there is no need to make independent decisions and self-medicate, especially when we are talking about children. Strictly follow the doctor's instructions.


With a low hematocrit, doctors recommend not only hematogen, but also a special diet with a lot of iron-rich foods, in particular:

  • nuts;
  • apples;
  • liver;
  • meat.

The decision on the diet should be made taking into account the individual characteristics of each patient, because a person may have other problems, and not just a low hematocrit, and then some useful product immediately cease to be. This is another reason why it is dangerous to self-medicate: you can not take into account all the factors and do nothing, and this is in best case, at worst - harm.

What is dangerous low hematocrit

Red blood cells supply the organs with nutrients and oxygen. If their level falls, the organs begin to experience oxygen starvation, in addition, this leads to a violation of the acid-base balance.

External signs of low hematocrit:

  • weakness;
  • dyspnea;
  • cardiopalmus;
  • a person gets tired quickly;
  • the skin becomes pale.

Important: a low hematocrit, like an increased one, is not a reason to immediately start treatment. These indicators tell the specialist in which direction to look for a possible problem, and only if additional tests reveal it, only then is treatment prescribed.

If a child's blood test shows a low or high hematocrit, there is no need to immediately panic. This is not necessarily evidence of a dangerous disease. As we have already noted, a deviation from the norm can be caused by temporary factors, and in children under one year of age, a hematocrit deviation from the norm within 10 percent is generally a frequent occurrence and is caused by normal physiological processes. When the child reaches the age of 12 months, the indicator should return to normal, but if even then the hematocrit continues to remain above or below the norm, an additional examination should be carried out.

Early identification of potential problems helps effective treatment and help the specialist choose the right course of preventive measures. Regular medical examination will help to control the state of health, because it is always better to learn about a possible problem at the time of its inception than to deal with the consequences.

We understand what it means if the hematocrit is lowered in the blood of a child, and when this indicator should be measured.

The composition of the blood and the amount of formed elements react to the influence of external and internal factors. Even minor pathological disorders lead to changes in laboratory blood parameters.

Measurement of the hematocrit value will allow diagnosing anemia at early stage when the disease does not manifest as clinical symptoms. A decrease in the indicator will also indicate an increase in the level of total protein or overhydration.

The hematocrit value in medicine is determined by two concepts:

  • the total volume of erythrocytes in blood plasma;
  • the ratio of the total volume of all blood cells to the total volume of blood.

It should be noted that the equivalent application of these two concepts is acceptable, since 99% of total number blood cells are directly related to erythrocytes. It is known that up to 48% of the blood is cells (leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets), and 65% is plasma.

The method for determining the indicator is simple: the collected venous blood placed in a special measuring tube with graduation. The tube with biomaterial is centrifuged. As a result, the formed elements are deposited, the plasma is on top. The total volume of precipitated elements is an indicator of hematocrit.

Currently, the process is automated and devoid of large errors due to the subjective assessment of the laboratory assistant. However, the risk of obtaining inaccurate results is not excluded. This is possible at the stage of taking the biomaterial. If the baby's vein was tied with a tourniquet for a long time or hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) occurred in the test tube, then the obtained indicators are unreliable. Biomaterial should be taken again.

A re-examination is also necessary if results are obtained that slightly deviate from the norm or are at the lower limit of the norm. It is necessary to understand exactly whether such a deviation was the result of the influence of temporary external factors or a sign of a disease.

When should hematocrit be checked?

Hematocrit value separately from other indicators general analysis blood is not determined. Since these data are not enough even for a screening examination. The value of hematocrit is important to consider when anemia is suspected, when assessing the degree of dehydration, when assessing the severity of hypoxia, when kidney diseases (polycystic, hydronephrosis, neoplasms), when an increased amount of proteins in the blood is suspected, as well as when there is an excess water content in the child's body.

The norm of hematocrit in children

A general blood test is taken from the baby in the first days of life after birth. This is necessary to assess the health of the newborn. The hematocrit value up to 14 days normally varies from 40 to 65%. Then it starts to gradually decrease.

In the first month it is 30 - 55%. In the second month from 27 to 43%. At 3 months, the maximum values ​​can normally reach 44%.

From 3 to 6 months, the reference values ​​​​of the value in question should be in the range from 30 to 41%. From six months to 1 year, the norm is from 33 to 43%.

Starting from 1 year and up to 12 years of age, the permissible hematocrit value is 30 - 42%. At the time of the onset of puberty, large-scale changes occur in the body of a teenager. The hormonal background and many laboratory parameters, including hematocrit, change. The norm for girls from 12 to 15 years old is from 34 to 41%, for boys - 37 - 45%. From 15 to 18 years of age, reference hematocrit values ​​are 31-44% and 38-49% for girls and boys, respectively.

What does it mean if the hematocrit is low in a child's blood?

Important: in newborn babies, a moderate decrease in hematocrit is a variant of the physiological norm. Therefore, it is fundamentally important to take into account the age of a small patient when deciphering the results of the analysis.

Anemia

A consistently low hematocrit in a child is a common sign of anemia. The disease is a group of similar clinical and hematological syndromes, united according to the principle of common manifestations:

  • a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood in humans;
  • a combined decrease in the level of erythrocytes, which is accompanied by a regular drop in the hematocrit value.

The etiology of the disease is different. The main reasons include:

  • malnutrition, which is dominated by lactic acid products,
  • deficiency of vitamins and disturbed diet (rare meals).

A mild form of anemia may be accompanied by the child's weakness and increased fatigue, children begin to study worse due to a decrease in concentration. A more pronounced form is characterized by the manifestation in children of shortness of breath, frequent headaches, insomnia and decreased appetite. As a rule, children with anemia have pale skin and mucous membranes. Dry skin, yellowish-gray complexion, drowsiness, irritability, hair loss, brittle nails, desire to eat chalk, earth, etc. are also often noted.

Therapy of the disease directly depends on the etiology and is selected strictly by the attending physician. If necessary, iron and vitamin B12 preparations are selected for the child. It is important to review the diet by adding foods rich in iron and vitamins. Severe stages of the disease require a red blood cell transfusion.

infections

In children, infections of various etiologies and helminthic infestations can also become causes.

The peculiarity of the disease in a long course without the manifestation of clinical symptoms. It is detected in children during routine medical examinations, so it is so important not to miss them.

Hyperproteinemia

A decrease in hematocrit is characteristic of a state of hyperproteinemia, when the level of proteins in the body increases significantly. In this case, you should undergo additional diagnostics to clarify the causes. Possible reasons: multiple myeloma, hyperglobulinemic purpura and macroglobulinemia. A similar condition is also observed during intoxication of the body, when the kidneys are not able to fully detoxify harmful substances.

Fluid balance and kidney failure

If the water-salt metabolism is disturbed, the child begins to accumulate excess fluid in the body. What causes an increase in plasma volumes with unchanged levels of blood cells. This leads to a decrease in the hematocrit value. Symptoms: increased swelling of the limbs and organs (brain, lungs), abdominal dropsy.

Renal failure leads to a violation of the composition of the extracellular fluid secretion. Which enhances the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. At the same time, decay products, entering the cells, cause significant humoral changes.

One of important indicators included in clinical analysis blood, - hematocrit (Ht). This parameter allows you to estimate the amount of red cells in the child's blood. Red blood cells perform an important function in the body - they supply tissues with oxygen and nutrients. This is possible due to the ability of hemoglobin, located in red cells, to bind to oxygen molecules in the lungs, transport them to the organs and give them to the cells, and then carry carbon dioxide to the lungs. If the hematocrit is lowered or increased, pathology may develop in the body. Using this parameter, the doctor will be able not only to suspect the disease, but also to determine the degree of its severity.

How the analysis is done

The hematocrit is calculated during a complete blood count. To do this, the blood is placed in a special test tube called a hematocrit and subjected to centrifugation for one and a half hours. As a result, heavier formed elements, most of which are erythrocytes, settle to the bottom of the tube, and the plasma remains at the top.

With the help of the applied divisions, it is possible to determine how much volume the red cells occupy in relation to the plasma. In modern laboratories, the calculation of hematocrit is carried out using hematology analyzers, which provide a more accurate result. Despite the fact that the Ht indicator gives a quantitative, but not a qualitative assessment of erythrocytes, this analysis considered to be quite informative. It is most often expressed as a percentage, sometimes it is written as a fraction - liter / liter.

Norms in children

The hematocrit rate varies depending on the age of the child:

  • in newborns, its level should be from 44 to 62%;
  • up to 3 months - from 32 to 44%;
  • from 3 months to a year - from 36 to 44%;
  • from a year to 10 years - from 37 to 44%.

Deviations from the norm

Deviation, both upward and downward, may indicate pathology, but may also have physiological causes.

If Ht is increased in children, then the blood becomes thicker and more viscous due to an increase in the number of formed elements relative to the volume of the liquid part. This condition is dangerous because there is a possibility of blood clots. If the norm is exceeded by 10-12% in a child under one year old, as a rule, this is due to physiology and should not cause concern. Another thing is if a high level is observed in a child older than a year.

With a low hematocrit in children, the volume of red blood cells that supply oxygen and nutrients to the organs does not reach the norm. In this regard, the acid-base balance in the child's body is disturbed, the cells experience oxygen starvation. As a result, the state of health worsens, namely, weakness, rapid fatigue, frequent heartbeat, shortness of breath, and pallor of the skin are observed.

How is hematocrit determined?

Reasons for high Ht

Hematocrit can be increased in the analysis if the child did not drink before donating blood, as well as in case of dehydration of the body with vomiting or with an increase in body temperature. Elevated Ht may be associated with pathological processes in which the concentration of red cells in the blood of a child increases. Among them:

  • congenital and acquired kidney disease: neoplasms, polycystic, hydronephrosis;
  • respiratory pathology;
  • injuries and burns;
  • heart disease;
  • leukemia;
  • peritonitis;
  • erythremia;
  • intestinal obstruction;
  • oxygen starvation, occurring without symptoms;
  • taking certain medications for a long time (mainly glucocorticosteroids).

Causes of low Ht

It is considered that the hematocrit is lowered if it has fallen to 25%. Low level this indicator in a blood test in children is a reason for an additional examination to determine the cause. In most cases, the decrease is due to the following pathologies:

  • slow formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow;
  • increased speed breakdown of red cells;
  • hyperproteinemia, or increased level protein in the blood
  • overhydration, or thin blood;
  • anemia
  • a large volume of blood;
  • acute bleeding.

Most often in children, hematocrit is reduced with anemia. In this case, you need to see a doctor who will help you make the right diet and, if necessary, prescribe drugs to increase the level of Ht. In food, you need to include more foods rich in iron: apples, meat, liver, eggs, nuts. Doctors recommend using hematogen, which can be bought at any pharmacy.

Finally

Deviation from the norm of hematocrit in analyzes in children does not always indicate pathology and is not the basis for making a diagnosis. This figure can only indicate possible development diseases and should always be considered in conjunction with such a parameter as hemoglobin. If the hematocrit is lowered or increased, this is an occasion to examine the child, identify the disease and begin timely treatment.

Many parents are faced with the fact that the child has a low hematocrit, and do not know what it is and what to do about it. Hematocrit number (hematocrit) - a value that characterizes the ratio of the number of erythrocytes to the volume of blood plasma(liquid part of it). In adults, this value is constant, while in children it changes with age or under the influence of various factors. The hematocrit is determined by centrifugation of the blood taken for analysis.

Normal hematocrit values ​​by age are shown in the table:

If the value is lower than specified, the hematocrit is considered insufficient.

This indicates the influence of various factors: hormonal changes, pathologies, etc.

Dangers and consequences of the condition

With prolonged absence of treatment, the development of coronary heart disease and hair loss are also observed.

Signs and symptoms

An anemic child is pale, has shortness of breath and weakness, gets tired quickly and is unable to perform either physical or mental work, feasible for his healthy peers. In addition, there may be tremor (tremor) of the hands, severe shortness of breath and increased heart rate.

The skin and mucous membranes are dry, may acquire a bluish tint.

What happens in the body?

With low hematocrit in the body oxygen starvation of organs and tissues begins most in need of oxygen. First of all, the brain suffers, many nerve cells die. This explains the forgetfulness and problems with concentration in the child.

This, in turn, leads to an overstrain of the heart, as a result of which ischemia develops.

At-risk groups

Not all children are equally susceptible to diseases leading to a decrease in the concentration of red blood cells. It is highly likely that the hematocrit will be lowered in a child:

  • with genetic diseases.
  • during chemotherapy.
  • Living in regions with an unfavorable environmental situation.
  • A patient with blood or liver diseases leading to the death of red blood cells.
  • In children who have survived injuries, burns, operations.
  • In children whose diet lacks vitamins of groups B and C.

How is the analysis carried out and why?

For analysis is taken finger blood which is poured into a test tube and centrifuge.

The centrifugation method allows you to separate blood cells (including erythrocytes that settle to the bottom), in order to then determine the ratio of the volumes of rebounded plasma and settled red cells.

What can affect the result of the analysis?

Any disease or pathological condition can affect the result, for example:

  • Worm infestations;
  • cold or flu;
  • consequences of injury;
  • Food poisoning;
  • Avitaminosis;
  • Hormonal changes associated with the onset of puberty;
In this case, deviations can be both in one direction and in the other.

Causes

Parents are wondering: if the hematocrit is lowered in a child, what does this mean? To answer, you need to consider the reasons for the decrease in this indicator:

  • Bleeding. The death of red blood cells can be caused by both internal and external bleeding due to injury or disease (for example, cancer, urolithiasis, hemophilia, etc.).
  • Fanatical adherence to a diet without a doctor's recommendation. This is especially true for teenage girls and children from vegetarian families.
  • Prolonged physical inactivity (staying still), for example, due to bed rest.
  • Diseases of the hematopoietic organs.
  • genetic mutations ( sickle anemia).
  • An increase in protein in the blood caused by cancer.
  • Fluid retention in the body with kidney disease, infections, infusion therapy, etc.

By determining the percentage of blood plasma and a suspension of its formed elements, one can get quite extensive ideas about the general state of the body at the time of the examination. Very often, a low hematocrit in laboratory tests indicates development, so such results cannot be ignored. And so, let's figure it out with you what is the danger of low hematocrit in a man, woman and your child, what is its norm by age and gender of a person.

Norm

The hematocrit is usually calculated as a percentage. However, in recent years, with the increasing use in laboratory practice of special equipment - hemoanalyzers, there is a transition to the use of other units of measurement. Modern laboratory equipment calculates hematocrit in l/l.

The hematocrit norm is a value that depends on gender and age category.

change during the first six years, showing a downward trend:

  • only born children - 33 - 65%;
  • children under 1 year old - 33 - 44%;
  • children aged 1 - 5 years - 32 - 41%;
  • children over 6 years old - 33 - 44%.
  • male population aged 18 - 45 years - 39 - 49%;
  • male population over 45 years old - 40 - 50%;
  • female population aged 18 - 45 - 35 - 45%;
  • women over 45 years old - 35 - 47%.

From a therapeutic point of view, it is acceptable to detect a reduced one, since this is associated with an increase in the volume of circulating blood in a woman's body against the background of a constant quantitative composition of blood cells.


Causes

Very rarely, a decrease in hematocrit in laboratory tests is due to physiological factors.

Usually, men also decrease as a result of the progression of pathological disorders in the body:

  • massive blood loss as a result of various injuries, internal bleeding of various etiologies;
  • fanatical adherence to diets without the consent of a nutritionist;
  • violation of motor activity, forced adherence to bed rest for a long period of time;
  • in which there is a violation of the processes of formation of new erythrocytes;
  • genetic diseases that lead to structural damage to blood cells and disruption of their lifespan;
  • decrease in the properties of the blood coagulation system;
  • caused by cancer circulatory system;
  • retention in the body of a large amount of fluid - hyperhydration, which is observed in diseases of the urinary system, with the development of infectious processes, during infusion therapy;
  • as one of possible complications second half of pregnancy.

Based on other examinations, the doctor is able to assume that the patient has the following diseases with reduced hematocrit values:

  • varieties of anemia, which are accompanied by a decrease in the number of red blood cells;
  • malignant forms of oncological diseases of the hematopoietic system;
  • the presence in the body of chronic foci of inflammation;
  • various etiologies;
  • kidney and liver diseases.

Is a decrease in the indicator dangerous for children

Initially, the norm of hematocrit in childhood higher than in adults, so the reduced level of hematocrit in the blood of a child immediately alarms specialists. Similar blood test results may be the first signs of development in children's body such pathological disorders as:

  • slowing down the processes of formation of new erythrocyte cells in the bone marrow;
  • accelerated processes;
  • increase in the concentration of proteins in the blood;
  • increase in blood volume;
  • development of an anemic condition.

Especially dangerous is the detection of a decrease in hematocrit in infants, since the tendency at this age to generalize any pathological disorder can lead to the development of extremely serious complications.

If such abnormalities are detected in the blood test in children, it is urgent to conduct a thorough examination of all systems and organs of the child in order to differentiate the exact cause of low hematocrit. Timely diagnosis and the beginning of therapeutic measures are the key to a positive prognosis for the course of diseases in children.

Conclusion

There is a certain category of the population in which it is possible to predict a violation of the functional abilities of the circulatory system. Knowing that they belong to a high-risk group, these people can take care in advance to take certain preventive measures that will significantly reduce the risk of a decrease in hematocrit and other parameters in the blood test. This category includes pregnant women, people with chronic pathologies of cardio-vascular system, people with impaired motor activity, forced to stay in bed for a long time. Also, a decrease in hematocrit in the body can occur in rapidly growing children if their diet is not balanced.

It is impossible to establish a diagnosis based only on the data of a laboratory examination and the determination of hematocrit indicators in them. A decrease in hematocrit in a man, woman and child requires an additional examination in order to find out the true reasons that provoked this condition.