- Iron deficiency is usually due to inadequate amounts of iron in the diet. However it is often made worse by chronic bleeding from the gut due to intestinal parasites.
- Cow’s milk contains little iron. Fortunately, most formula feeds contain additional iron which has reduced the incidence of iron deficiency in most formula-fed infants.
- Immediate clamping of the umbilical cord at birth deprives the newborn infant of much iron, while preterm infants have low iron stores.
Iron deficiency in children is usually due to a poor diet and worms.