What questions should I ask the Pediatrician? - Anemia Message Board

SkeochGirl · 10-14-2008, 09:08 AM

My son is a type 1 diabetic who went into the ER yesterday with a seizure. The attending told us he was a little anemic. I received the records today and am confused how a 13 year old, healthy eating, boy gets anemic.

RBC: 4.47 Norm 4.7 - 6.1
HGB: 12.8 Norm 14 - 18
HCT: 37.5 Norm 42 - 52

Also his neutrophils were low (they were high a month ago), lymphocytes are high (they were VERY low last month), has high bands and eosinophils. Aside from the diabetes and seizure, he has some mild allergy symptoms. Everything else was normal.

From that month ago lab work (he was admitted into the ER for bronchitis and DKA) his CBC was normal aside from the neuts and lymphs. During that hospitalization he was given breathing treatments, but I don't know if that can cause anemia.

Is there anything I should be really pressing the pediatrician? I suppose a repeat screen is in order, but anything else?

FLFLOWERGIRL · 10-14-2008, 03:52 PM

I would always repeat labs especially if they are done at the hospital through an ER. Sometimes the blood labs get misshandled, I know this first hand. It's just a good practice to do over again with your PCP/PEDs. I would ask about the meds one never knows what impact that they can have on our body. Children often do become anemic due to diet and growth spurts. FLFLOWERGIRL