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Does Low Hemoglobin Levels Cause Autism In Child?
Question: My baby boy is six months old....at this checkup, his hemoglobin was a little low, it was 10 and it should be above 11.
I read this can be a cause for autism, is that true?
He was a preemie and was taking Poly-Vi_sol with Iron for the first three months...I crossed wires with his dr and I thought I was supposed to stop...do you think this would have caused any damage
I read this can be a cause for autism, is that true?
He was a preemie and was taking Poly-Vi_sol with Iron for the first three months...I crossed wires with his dr and I thought I was supposed to stop...do you think this would have caused any damage
Brief Answer:
Vitamin and iron supplementation beneficial, not harmful
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
The cause of low hemoglobin needs to be evaluated. Most commonly it occurs due to iron deficiency, for which supplementation is being done. The vitamin supplementation also can be continued. It is for his benefit and will not cause any harm. But you need to talk to your doctor about whether you need to move to a better form of iron supplementation.
I would not link low hemoglobin with autism.
In case you are apprehensive, you may answer the m-chat questionnaire which is available at:
https://www.m-chat.org/mchat.php
Hope that helps.
If you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Vitamin and iron supplementation beneficial, not harmful
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
The cause of low hemoglobin needs to be evaluated. Most commonly it occurs due to iron deficiency, for which supplementation is being done. The vitamin supplementation also can be continued. It is for his benefit and will not cause any harm. But you need to talk to your doctor about whether you need to move to a better form of iron supplementation.
I would not link low hemoglobin with autism.
In case you are apprehensive, you may answer the m-chat questionnaire which is available at:
https://www.m-chat.org/mchat.php
Hope that helps.
If you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So iron deficiency is not linked as a cause of autism either? I am just concerned because he might have had low iron for a few months and we did not know and that I stopped the supplements too early and that might cause a problem.
We are resuming vitamins and dr is pleased with his progress. He was born at just 3 lbs 2 oz and is now 15 lbs
We are resuming vitamins and dr is pleased with his progress. He was born at just 3 lbs 2 oz and is now 15 lbs
Brief Answer:
Mere association does not indicate causality
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking back.
Let me explain it. Although iron deficiency can often be seen in autistic patients, if you consider the broader picture, the number of children with both iron deficiency and autism constitutes a very minor fraction of the total number of children with iron deficiency. Besides, mere presence does not mark it as a cause. Autism is a neurodevelopmental abnormality of socialization. I would not think of autism simply if a child has low hemoglobin.
The corrected gestational age of your child would be counted from the expected date of delivery (not the date of birth). Based on this age, the birth weight should double in 5 months and triple in 10-12 months. The weight gain has been quite rapid in this regard and I would suggest taking 3 monthly weights and plotting them on a growth chart.
Hope that clears your queries.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Mere association does not indicate causality
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking back.
Let me explain it. Although iron deficiency can often be seen in autistic patients, if you consider the broader picture, the number of children with both iron deficiency and autism constitutes a very minor fraction of the total number of children with iron deficiency. Besides, mere presence does not mark it as a cause. Autism is a neurodevelopmental abnormality of socialization. I would not think of autism simply if a child has low hemoglobin.
The corrected gestational age of your child would be counted from the expected date of delivery (not the date of birth). Based on this age, the birth weight should double in 5 months and triple in 10-12 months. The weight gain has been quite rapid in this regard and I would suggest taking 3 monthly weights and plotting them on a growth chart.
Hope that clears your queries.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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