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Pharmacological Discussion Post updated in June
2023 with References for further reading
Josiah is a 9-month-old who presents to the clinic for a well-child examination. He appears
healthy with no parental concerns. His height is 28.5 inches (60th percentile), weight is 9.8
kg (70th percentile), and head circumference is 18 inches (60th percentile). His growth is
consistent along the growth curve. The infant’s diet is as follows: breastfed, some solids,
mostly family diet pureed for baby, and no meats yet. He does not like iron-fortified baby
cereals but likes crackers and teething biscuits. His mother gives him vitamin D drops daily
and no other supplements. Assessment Josiah is alert, pulls to a stand, babbles, and is
interactive. The anterior fontanelle is flat. His skin is pale, and his conjunctiva is slightly
pale. His skin is pink and warm, with no bruising. The rest of the examination is within
normal limits. Finger stick hemoglobin (Hgb) is 10.2.
What would be the initial management plan for an infant with anemia?
To confirm that anemia is the root cause of low hemoglobin, the caregiver must perform
additional examinations and tests. A complete blood count (CBC and vitamin B12 levels) and
folate levels are additional laboratory tests that can help determine whether the kid has anemia
(Cedars-Sinai, 2023). A doctor's initial course of action after a kid is diagnosed with anemia is to
give the child an iron supplement or medication, such as one tablet of ferrous sulfate, furnace,
Pharmacological Discussion Post updated in June
2023 with References for further reading
Josiah is a 9-month-old who presents to the clinic for a well-child examination. He appears
healthy with no parental concerns. His height is 28.5 inches (60th percentile), weight is 9.8
kg (70th percentile), and head circumference is 18 inches (60th percentile). His growth is
consistent along the growth curve. The infant’s diet is as follows: breastfed, some solids,
mostly family diet pureed for baby, and no meats yet. He does not like iron-fortified baby
cereals but likes crackers and teething biscuits. His mother gives him vitamin D drops daily
and no other supplements. Assessment Josiah is alert, pulls to a stand, babbles, and is
interactive. The anterior fontanelle is flat. His skin is pale, and his conjunctiva is slightly
pale. His skin is pink and warm, with no bruising. The rest of the examination is within
normal limits. Finger stick hemoglobin (Hgb) is 10.2.
What would be the initial management plan for an infant with anemia?
To confirm that anemia is the root cause of low hemoglobin, the caregiver must perform
additional examinations and tests. A complete blood count (CBC and vitamin B12 levels) and
folate levels are additional laboratory tests that can help determine whether the kid has anemia
(Cedars-Sinai, 2023). A doctor's initial course of action after a kid is diagnosed with anemia is to
give the child an iron supplement or medication, such as one tablet of ferrous sulfate, furnace,
