A 3-month-old infant who was born at 34 weeks' gestation is being breast-fed. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is 70 μm3 (normal = 80-100), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MHC) is 28% (normal = 30-34). The infant should receive an oral supplement of which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The infant has microcytic anemia, indicated by a low MCV, which is commonly due to iron deficiency. Preterm infants are at higher risk for iron deficiency due to lower iron stores at birth, so an oral iron supplement is appropriate.  The symptoms in this infant are indicative of iron-deficiency anemia which is characterized by microcytic (small) and hypochromic (lowpigment) erythrocytes. Oral administration of ferrous sulfate is commonly used to supplement iron loss causing the anemia, however, intravenous iron therapy may be called for in some cases. Severe iron-deficiency anemia may necessitate transfusion with packed red blood cells.

A 3-Month-Old Infant Who Was Born at 34 Weeks' Gestation