Hematocrit is normal for a 3 year old child

What does this mean?

Hematocrit is the main indicator that helps determine the number of red blood cells in a child’s blood. Usually measured as a percentage in a complete blood count. Hematocrit determines how stable and how the process of oxygen transfer to the blood and heart occurs. Nowadays, automated technology is used that independently determines the level of hematocrit in the blood. Previously, you had to independently determine whether the level of red blood cells was increasing, and this was difficult, the procedure took a lot of time.

Organization of normalization of hematocrit in a child’s body

In a situation where a child’s hematocrit is low as a result of anemia, it is important to normalize the diet - consume more apples, nuts, liver, eggs, and meat. Food should contain a lot of iron. It is good for a child's body to consume hematogen. Special medications, vitamins containing iron, which are prescribed by a doctor, can completely overcome anemia. Sometimes they are administered intravenously, taken in solutions or in tablets.

Don't panic. It is best to independently study all the results of clinical blood tests, because the information will not be a final diagnosis. If the hematocrit does not correspond to the norm, then this does not indicate the development of a deadly disease in the body. The volume of red blood cells and their ratio to plasma is only a general clinical picture that does not directly indicate the disease. Establishing hematocrit indicators and their correct interpretation can only be carried out by specialists who take into account all the nuances of conducting a hematological examination.

In general, the treatment process involves eliminating problems that have caused a low hematocrit in an infant or an older child, or where its indicators have increased. In accordance with the specification of the pathology, the doctor prescribes medications to restore blood.

It is important!

Low hematocrit is diagnosed somewhat less frequently than high levels of this value. People who smoke are often at risk, since their body lacks oxygen, and therefore red blood cells are produced in large quantities. Climbers can also be included here, because at altitude their bodies also develop a lack of oxygen.

Let's figure out what this means if the hematocrit in a child's blood is low, and when this indicator should be measured.

The composition of the blood and the number of formed elements respond to the influence of external and internal factors. Even minor pathological disorders lead to changes in laboratory blood parameters.

Measuring the hematocrit value will allow diagnosing anemia at an early stage, when the disease does not manifest itself in the form of clinical symptoms. A decrease in the indicator will also indicate an increase in total protein levels or overhydration.

The hematocrit value in medicine is defined by two concepts:

• total volume of red blood cells in blood plasma;
• the ratio of the total volume of all blood cells to the total volume of blood.

It should be noted that the equivalent use of these two concepts is permissible, since 99% of the total number of blood cells are directly erythrocytes. It is known that up to 48% of the blood is cells (leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets), and 65% is plasma.

The method for determining the indicator is simple: the collected venous blood is placed in a special measuring tube with graduation. The tube with the biomaterial is centrifuged. As a result, the formed elements end up in the sediment, the plasma on top. The total volume of deposited elements is an indicator of hematocrit.

Currently, the process is automated and does not have a large error due to the subjective assessment of the laboratory assistant. However, the risk of obtaining inaccurate results cannot be excluded. This is possible at the stage of taking biomaterial. If the baby’s vein was tied with a tourniquet for a long time or hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) occurred in the test tube, then the obtained indicators are unreliable. The biomaterial should be taken again.

A repeat study is also necessary if results are obtained that deviate slightly from the norm or are at the lower limit of the norm. It is necessary to understand precisely whether such a deviation was the result of the influence of temporary external factors or a sign of a disease.

When should you check your hematocrit?

The hematocrit value is not determined separately from other indicators of the general blood test. Since this data is not enough even for a screening examination. The value of hematocrit is important to consider when suspecting anemia, assessing the degree of dehydration, assessing the severity of hypoxia, kidney disease (polycystic disease, hydronephrosis, neoplasms), suspecting an increased amount of proteins in the blood, as well as excess water content in the child’s body.

Hematocrit: normal in children

Hematocrit is measured as a percentage, so the indicators are different for each age. Normal hematocrit in children:

• on the fifth day of life and before the end of the first month - 53-49%.
• for infants up to one year old – 45%;
• in children from 1-3 to 5 years old – 35%;
• in children from 5 to 9-10 years old – 37%;
• in children aged 10-15 years – 39%;
• in children over 15 – 47%.

It is believed that the hematocrit in the blood is increased when it reaches a level of more than 62%, and in children older than one year - higher than 44%.

It is worthwhile to carefully examine the table and, at the slightest deviation, contact a doctor who will help you understand what is causing the high indicators and prescribe preventive actions.

Hematocrit level norms

What does it mean if the hematocrit in a child’s blood is low?

Important: in newborn infants, a moderate decrease in the hematocrit value is a variant of the physiological norm. Therefore, it is fundamentally important to take into account the age of a small patient when deciphering the obtained analysis results.

Anemia

A consistently low hematocrit in a child is a common sign of anemia. The disease is a group of similar clinical and hematological syndromes, united according to the principle of common manifestations:

• decrease in hemoglobin concentration in human blood;
• a combined decrease in the level of red blood cells, which is accompanied by a natural drop in the hematocrit value.

The etiology of the disease is different. The main reasons include:

• unhealthy diet, which is dominated by lactic acid products,
• vitamin deficiency and disordered diet (rare meals).

A mild form of anemia may be accompanied by the child’s weakness and increased fatigue; children begin to study worse due to decreased concentration. A more pronounced form is characterized by shortness of breath, frequent headaches, insomnia and decreased appetite in children. As a rule, children with anemia have pale skin and mucous membranes. Dry skin, a yellowish-gray complexion, drowsiness, irritability, hair loss, brittle nails, a desire to eat chalk, earth, etc. are also often noted.

Reasons for increased hematocrit

If the hematocrit in the blood is increased, this does not mean that bacteria have entered the body or diseases are developing. This phenomenon may be associated with a physical and psychological state that is disrupted as a result of exposure to external factors. In such cases, an increase in hematocrit does not affect the health and condition of the child. There are 6 reasons for increased red blood cell levels.

1. Plasma loss and dehydration. Dehydration occurs as a result of loss of fluid in the body, which occurs with excessive diarrhea, vomiting, or after vigorous physical activity. Water leaves the body, a compensation process occurs, and therefore the level of blood cells rises.
2. Injuries or burns. With burns and severe injuries to the skin, the wounds begin to become overgrown with blood clots, and because of this, the level of red blood cells increases, especially in children, since their body is not sufficiently formed and strengthened.
3. Erythremia. A bone marrow tumor in which blood cells are produced more intensively. The reasons are different, but an increase in red blood cells threatens the emergence of dangerous blood diseases.
4. Kidney diseases. During diseases and inflammatory processes in the kidneys, red blood cells increase, since the body's metabolism is completely or partially disrupted. These may be tumors or polycystic disease, due to which most of the fluid is lost in the urine and red blood cells increase.
5. Use of drugs and antibiotics. If you often use antibiotics and drugs in large quantities, this threatens to impair the child’s condition, and the level of red blood cells in the blood will rise.
6. Anemia or leukemia. Perhaps anemia begins to develop in the blood, which is caused by a lack of hemoglobin. If treatment is not taken on time, this threatens the development of leukemia, as a result of which the level of red blood cells will begin to increase inexorably.

What affects the decrease in Ht?

A decrease in hematocrit is recorded when its level is clearly low, that is, it drops to 25%. Having discovered that the hematocrit is reduced, the doctor prescribes an additional examination for the small patient to determine the cause.

Anemia is the most common cause of low hematocrit in a child

As a rule, a decrease in Ht is a consequence of the accumulation of excess fluid, due to which the blood thins and the percentage level of red blood cells and plasma changes (overhydration), and hemoglobin decreases (see also:). The cause may be hyperproteinemia (excessive concentration of proteins). Such changes are caused by:

1. Severe blood loss.
2. Violation of the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow towards a decrease in their number or size.
3. Hereditary or acquired hemolytic anemia, typhoid fever, malaria, hemolytic poisons, in which rapid destruction of red blood cells occurs.
4. Intravenous administration of large amounts of fluid for impaired renal function, leading to an increase in blood volume.
5. Various types of anemia.
6. Overhydration - blood thinning due to disturbances in the excretory system, insufficient blood circulation, water intoxication.
7. Increased protein levels in the blood (hyperproteinemia). Occurs with frequent vomiting, acute infections, diarrhea, paraproteinemic hemoblastoses, Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma.

Anemia is a common cause of decreased hematocrit. The child needs medical supervision and the establishment of a proper diet. The doctor may suggest taking medications that increase Ht.

The baby's menu is made up of foods rich in iron: liver, apples, nuts, eggs, meat. It is useful for a child to take hematogen, which is sold in all pharmacies. Parents should ensure compliance with all settings recommended by the pediatrician.

Why is an increase in hematocrit dangerous in children?

When the hematocrit increases, the blood becomes thick and viscous, and this threatens the formation of blood clots, which slow down the blood circulation process. This phenomenon is dangerous because it can cause serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels, into which blood and oxygen do not pass in normal quantities.

For children whose mothers did not stop breastfeeding, such symptoms are doubly dangerous, since diseases of the cardiac system and blood vessels can develop, which develop into chronic forms.

Taking blood from a baby to determine the hematocrit level

Why is a false test result possible?

If the doctor suspects that the test result is incorrect, the child will have to donate blood again to obtain reliable information.
Some factors that arise at the time of blood sampling can distort the test result, showing an increase or decrease in hematocrit. For example, if blood sampling is done after severe blood loss, or before it, an intravenous infusion of a drug that thins the blood was given. A false indicator will also be obtained when taking an analysis from a child who has been in a supine position for a long time. The Ht level will also be lower when the vein has been compressed with a tourniquet for a long time. If the doctor has doubts, a repeat test is prescribed.

It should also be taken into account that the hematocrit indicator does not serve as the basis for establishing a diagnosis; it only warns that there is a pathology in the child’s body or there is a risk of developing any disease. The final verdict of the doctor is announced only after studying all the tests, and in the case of hematocrit, its relationship with hemoglobin level is taken into account. If a decrease or increase in hematocrit level is detected, parents should conduct a thorough examination of the baby in order to begin treatment on time.

The above figures are given as percentages, but they can also be written in the ratio of liters to liters, and then it will not look like, for example, 43%, but like 0.43/1, that is, there are 0.43 liters of red blood cells in 1 liter of blood. They can only write it in numbers - 43, or 0.43.

In particular, you should not donate blood for testing if:

• the day before there was strong physical activity;
• the day before there were emotional upheavals and stress;
• after blood loss (in this case, the analysis will show a reduced hematocrit, but it will not be clear whether this indicator is caused by blood loss or signals other health problems).

Remember that the blood test is done for specialists, not for you, so there is no need to make independent decisions and self-medicate, especially when we are talking about children. Follow your doctor's instructions strictly.

With a low hematocrit, doctors recommend not only hematogen, but also a special diet with a large amount of iron-rich foods, in particular:

• nuts;
• apples;
• liver;
• meat.

The decision about the diet should be made taking into account the individual characteristics of each patient, because a person may have other problems, not just a low hematocrit, and then some useful product will immediately cease to be useful. This is another reason why it is dangerous to self-medicate: you may not take into account all the factors and do nothing to help, and this at best, at worst, will cause harm.

Reasons for the downgrade

Hematocrit reflects the rheological properties of blood. They are related to its density and depend on the number of formed elements. If the indicator increases, then there are more red blood cells and the blood thickens. When it decreases, the plasma volume begins to dominate.

The reasons for a decrease in hematocrit in childhood include:

• anemia is the most common pathology leading to a decrease in hematocrit levels. The disease also has other signs: the average volume of red blood cells decreases, which is associated with a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in them;
• severe acute or chronic blood loss;
• rapid destruction of red blood cells due to congenital anomalies of their structure or acquired diseases;
• taking large amounts of fluid, as well as long-term infusion therapy;
• increase in protein concentration in the blood.

In some children, a decrease in hematocrit may not be associated with disease. Such changes are typical after heavy physical exertion or emotional stress.

To prevent false results, doctors recommend adhering to the following principles of preparing for blood donation:

• if the child has had nosebleeds in the last 7-10 days, after tooth extraction or for other reasons, then the test should be postponed;
• the day before donating blood, any physical activity is excluded, including attending sports sections and physical education classes at school;
• it is necessary to exclude stressful situations;
• when carrying out infusion therapy, the analysis is postponed for 1-2 days;
• It is not recommended to drink large amounts of liquid per day and on the day of the study.

Excluding these factors allows you to obtain reliable results. Only the attending physician interprets them. Incorrect diagnosis is the reason for the progression of diseases and the development of their complications.

Possible consequences

Red blood cells are cells that transport oxygen to internal organs and the brain. When a child's hematocrit is low, this may indicate a decrease in their number. In this case, children experience the following symptoms:

• paleness of the skin. In children under one year old, they may have a “marble” tint;
• weakness that occurs against the background of any physical or mental work;
• tachycardia not associated with other diseases.

In cases where changes in the blood remain undetected for a long time and the child does not receive therapy, they lead to organic changes. Against the background of cerebral hypoxia, the child experiences difficulties in learning - he cannot concentrate on educational material for a long time, forgets information and takes a long time to formulate answers to the teacher’s questions. Also, a lag is formed in physical development, since children are not able to engage in physical education lessons with their peers. In severe cases, degenerative processes develop in the internal organs, which can cause symptoms of diseases of the heart, kidneys, lungs, etc.

It is important to understand that a change in hematocrit is not an indication for starting any treatment. The doctor conducts an additional examination of the child, as well as laboratory and instrumental methods, identifying the reason for the deviation of the indicator. Once it is established, complex therapy is prescribed.

Reduced hematocrit - what does this mean?

Parents who see a decrease in their child's hematocrit in their test results often worry about what this means and what measures should be taken to correct it. Doctors note that a deviation in the indicator does not indicate serious pathologies, but may be associated with lifestyle, diet or iron deficiency anemia. The main task of parents is to visit the doctor in a timely manner and follow his instructions.