Peds Hematology | Questions with 100% Verified Answers |
Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: iron deficiency anemia is the MC.....
Answer: nutritional deficiency in children
Question: iron deficiency definition
Answer: insufficient total body iron to maintain normal physiologic functions
Question: low ferritin would indicate what?
Answer: low amount of iron because ferritin stores iron
Question: risk factors of a child developing IDA:
Answer: perinatal (first 3-6 months): if mom was iron def, insufficient intake during early infancy infancy: lack
of iron supplementation in breast fed infants, low-iron formula, malabsorptive disease childhood: excessive
cow's milk intake, insufficient iron in foods, obesity
Question: IDA clinical manifestations
Answer: -MC: asymptomatic -Neurodevelopmental: decreased visual and auditory processing time -febrile
seizures -decreased exercise capacity -PICA -poor sleep/restless leg syndrome
Question: IDA screening
Answer: universal screening- FOCUSED DIETARY HISTORY is MOST IMPORTANT
Question: universal lab screenings recommendations based on age:
Answer: -for all children: screen once at 9-12 months CBC and ferritin -for children with risk factors for iron
deficiency (premature, diet, celiac disease): second screen 15-18 months -for children with special health
needs: repeat lab screening at 15-18 months of age, and again in early childhood (2-5 yrs)
Question: at what age will a child typically present with IDA?
Answer: 6 months-3 years atypical 3-12 years
Question: focused history questions for a child who may be presenting with IDA?
Answer: -age? -any risk factors? -DIET? -bleeding? -celiac or IBD? -family hx? -skin pallor?
Question: labs to order for IDA?
Answer: -cbc -iron panel (ferritin, TIBC, iron serum)
Question: what is another lab you should order for a child presenting with symptoms of IDA?
Answer: lead
Question: how to diagnose IDA?
Answer: -microcytic hypochromic anemia on CBC -low serum ferritin -diagnosis is confirmed if there is an
appropriate response to iron therapy trial
, Question: IDA treatment
Answer: -oral iron -pt education: black teeth, constipation, eat on empty stomach or with vitamin C -avoid dairy
consumption
Question: how to prevent IDA?
Answer: -full-term infants: breastfed infants may need an iron supplement or iron-rich foods at 4 months of age
(placental iron starting to leave) -premature infants: start on iron supplements at 2 weeks of age -limit cows
milk
Question: what is sickle cell disease
Answer: -an inherited group of disorders characterized by the presence of hemoglobin S (HbS)
Question: whar are the hallmarks of SCD
Answer: -vaso-occlusive phenomena and hemolytic anemia
Question: describe the patho of SCD
Answer: -the sickle point mutation in the beta-globin gene results in the production of sickleshaped hemoglobin
Question: when a patient is homozygous for the sickle gene they have....
Answer: sickle cell anemia
Question: when a patient is heterozygous for the sickle gene they...
Answer: are a carrier but not as severe, no anemia associated with it usually
Question: what does a sickle cell look like
Answer:
Question: what would you see on a CBC and blood smear?
Answer: -baseline chronic, compensated, hemolytic anemia -lower Hgb -sickled cells -Howell jolly bodies -mildly
high WBC count -reticulocytosis
Question: acute complications of SCA
Answer: -infections -severe anemia/aplastic crisis -acute pain -acute chest syndrome
Question: chronic complications of SCA
Answer: -pain -anemia -neuro deficits of seizures -delayed puberty and growth
Question: why are people with SCA at increased risk for infection?
Answer: -hyposplenism (spleen working in overdrive trying to filter through sickled cells, cannot produce
enough WBC or antibodies -decreased tissue perfusion -hypoventilation
Question: if suspected infection in a pt wth SCA what do you do?
Answer: -pan culture, appropriate abx, IVF, likely hospitalization
Question: what preventative measures are taken for kids with SCA?
Answer: -comprehensive vaccines (either an earlier schedule or additional ones) -prophylactic penicillin (start
at 2 months) -parent/pt education for strict return precautions
Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: iron deficiency anemia is the MC.....
Answer: nutritional deficiency in children
Question: iron deficiency definition
Answer: insufficient total body iron to maintain normal physiologic functions
Question: low ferritin would indicate what?
Answer: low amount of iron because ferritin stores iron
Question: risk factors of a child developing IDA:
Answer: perinatal (first 3-6 months): if mom was iron def, insufficient intake during early infancy infancy: lack
of iron supplementation in breast fed infants, low-iron formula, malabsorptive disease childhood: excessive
cow's milk intake, insufficient iron in foods, obesity
Question: IDA clinical manifestations
Answer: -MC: asymptomatic -Neurodevelopmental: decreased visual and auditory processing time -febrile
seizures -decreased exercise capacity -PICA -poor sleep/restless leg syndrome
Question: IDA screening
Answer: universal screening- FOCUSED DIETARY HISTORY is MOST IMPORTANT
Question: universal lab screenings recommendations based on age:
Answer: -for all children: screen once at 9-12 months CBC and ferritin -for children with risk factors for iron
deficiency (premature, diet, celiac disease): second screen 15-18 months -for children with special health
needs: repeat lab screening at 15-18 months of age, and again in early childhood (2-5 yrs)
Question: at what age will a child typically present with IDA?
Answer: 6 months-3 years atypical 3-12 years
Question: focused history questions for a child who may be presenting with IDA?
Answer: -age? -any risk factors? -DIET? -bleeding? -celiac or IBD? -family hx? -skin pallor?
Question: labs to order for IDA?
Answer: -cbc -iron panel (ferritin, TIBC, iron serum)
Question: what is another lab you should order for a child presenting with symptoms of IDA?
Answer: lead
Question: how to diagnose IDA?
Answer: -microcytic hypochromic anemia on CBC -low serum ferritin -diagnosis is confirmed if there is an
appropriate response to iron therapy trial
, Question: IDA treatment
Answer: -oral iron -pt education: black teeth, constipation, eat on empty stomach or with vitamin C -avoid dairy
consumption
Question: how to prevent IDA?
Answer: -full-term infants: breastfed infants may need an iron supplement or iron-rich foods at 4 months of age
(placental iron starting to leave) -premature infants: start on iron supplements at 2 weeks of age -limit cows
milk
Question: what is sickle cell disease
Answer: -an inherited group of disorders characterized by the presence of hemoglobin S (HbS)
Question: whar are the hallmarks of SCD
Answer: -vaso-occlusive phenomena and hemolytic anemia
Question: describe the patho of SCD
Answer: -the sickle point mutation in the beta-globin gene results in the production of sickleshaped hemoglobin
Question: when a patient is homozygous for the sickle gene they have....
Answer: sickle cell anemia
Question: when a patient is heterozygous for the sickle gene they...
Answer: are a carrier but not as severe, no anemia associated with it usually
Question: what does a sickle cell look like
Answer:
Question: what would you see on a CBC and blood smear?
Answer: -baseline chronic, compensated, hemolytic anemia -lower Hgb -sickled cells -Howell jolly bodies -mildly
high WBC count -reticulocytosis
Question: acute complications of SCA
Answer: -infections -severe anemia/aplastic crisis -acute pain -acute chest syndrome
Question: chronic complications of SCA
Answer: -pain -anemia -neuro deficits of seizures -delayed puberty and growth
Question: why are people with SCA at increased risk for infection?
Answer: -hyposplenism (spleen working in overdrive trying to filter through sickled cells, cannot produce
enough WBC or antibodies -decreased tissue perfusion -hypoventilation
Question: if suspected infection in a pt wth SCA what do you do?
Answer: -pan culture, appropriate abx, IVF, likely hospitalization
Question: what preventative measures are taken for kids with SCA?
Answer: -comprehensive vaccines (either an earlier schedule or additional ones) -prophylactic penicillin (start
at 2 months) -parent/pt education for strict return precautions
