ABSTRACT
The haemoglobin level is high at birth (15-19 g/dl) and falls to a nadir at about 23 months of age, but it seldom falls to below 10 g/dl in healthy infants. Anaemia may result from failure of red cell production, increased red cell breakdown or haemorrhage. It is often asymptomatic, but clinical features include tiredness, lethargy and pallor. Breathlessness and cardiac failure are more common if the onset of anaemia is acute (e.g. acute haemolysis). The commonest cause of anaemia in childhood is iron deficiency.
