Investigation of anaemia

Anaemia in a child may be a presenting feature, either of a primary haematological disease or secondary to other pathology; it may also be an incidental finding in an otherwise well child. Anaemia itself is not a diagnosis, but appropriate interpretation of both clinical and laboratory findings should prompt investigation to determine the cause. Both the likelihood of certain diagnoses and the haematological parameters vary with age and it is essential to compare age-adjusted ranges in order to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary investigation. Ethnicity and family history may contribute important information as to the cause of the anaemia and a medical history to determine general health, diet and specific symptoms may also be informative. Much can be determined from the full blood count, supplemented by a blood film report. With relatively few further investigations, the majority of causes of anaemia in a child can be identified.