Anemia, a condition characterised by a deficiency in red blood cells, can lead to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs.
According to the Health online portal Mayo Clinic, anemia occurs when the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin, a protein in red cells responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
People with anemia often experienced symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
There are various types of anemia, each with distinct causes, and the condition ranges from mild to severe, either lasting temporarily or persisting long-term.
Who is affected?
Anemia could affect anyone, but certain demographics are more vulnerable, especially women.
Due to menstrual blood loss, women are at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency anemia, particularly during pregnancy when the demand for iron increases.
Young children were also highly susceptible, with one in three Malaysian children aged six to 36 months at risk of anemia.
This risk was often exacerbated by poor dietary habits and socioeconomic factors.
Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Health Sciences, Nutrition Programme, Professor Dr Hamid Jan said that both high-income families and low-income families face challenges regarding children's nutrition.
In high-income households, picky eating was prevalent, while in low-income families, access to nutritious food was limited.
Expanding on the findings, the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) Department of Paediatrics head, consultant pediatrician, endocrinologist, and associate professor Dr Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin raised concerns regarding childhood anemia in Malaysia.
Based on findings from the 2022 Einstein study, which involved around 1,200 children aged six to 36 months across five Malaysian states, he added that the research revealed that one in three children was at risk of anemia.
This issue affected children from both urban and rural areas, with 35 per cent of children under the age of one being aneemic.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of anemia vary depending on the severity.
Mild anemia could be asymptomatic, while moderate anemia presents symptoms such as paleness, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Severe anemia, with haemoglobin levels below 7g per deciliter, could cause heart palpitations and extreme fatigue.
According to Dr Yazid, severe anemia, especially in children under five years old, was rare, with less than one per cent of cases falling into this category.
However, even mild or moderate anemia requires attention because it could still affect health without obvious symptoms.
Preventing Anemia
Preventing anemia involves ensuring sufficient iron intake through a balanced diet, including red meat, leafy greens, and fortified cereals.
Public health initiatives needed to focus on educating communities about the importance of nutrition and regular health screenings.
Thus, screening for anemia was crucial for early intervention.
Dr Yazid highlighted the importance of early detection through screening to manage the condition effectively.
He pointed out that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended non-invasive screening methods, such as the HemoQ device, to measure haemoglobin levels.
Though Malaysia previously had policies to screen adolescents in schools, these efforts were disrupted by the pandemic, and Dr Yazid hoped these initiatives would be resumed soon.
While anemia poses a significant public health challenge in Malaysia, understanding its causes, risks, and prevention strategies could aid in effectively combating this condition.
As the data showed, increased awareness and proactive measures were essential to improving the health of the nation’s children and vulnerable populations.