Hematocrit in children is a laboratory indicator that is detected during a general analysis of the main biological fluid of the body. The norm can fluctuate both up and down. In any case, medical attention is needed.
The reasons for deviations from normal indicators are varied - ranging from insufficient fluid intake and a large amount of salt in the diet, ending with the occurrence of ailments from many internal organs.
Symptoms that a child’s hematocrit is low or, conversely, high, very often go unnoticed, since they are masked as a sign of an underlying disease. However, there are several manifestations that may indicate the course of such a disorder.
The basis for diagnosis is a general blood test in children, but additional laboratory and instrumental examinations may be needed to determine the cause of the disease.
Treatment tactics primarily involve the use of conservative methods, including: taking medications, changing food habits and rationalizing lifestyle.
Normal values
A child's hematocrit has several normal indicators, which will differ depending on the age category.
Acceptable age indicators are shown in the following table:
It follows that the values vary not only depending on age, but also on gender.
Etiology
Any deviation can be caused by both pathological and physiological predisposing factors, which differ in the course of such a disorder.
For example, if the hematocrit is elevated in a child, then this could be influenced by:
- polycystic kidney disease;
- hydronephrotic transformation of this organ;
- malignant or benign tumors in the kidneys;
- oxygen starvation of varying severity;
- insufficient fluid intake per day;
- leukemia;
- severe burn wounds;
- erythremia;
- peritonitis;
- long-term use of medications, in particular glucocorticosteroids;
- the influence of severe neuropsychic shock;
- blood transfusion;
- transfer of placental blood to the baby after birth;
- diseases of the liver, adrenal glands and cardiovascular system.
It is considered quite common to exceed normal values by 1-5% in babies under one year old. In such cases, no specific treatment is required.
The hematocrit may be reduced in a child under the influence of:
- slow formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow;
- large volume of blood;
- drinking large amounts of liquid;
- anemia or anemia;
- thin blood;
- internal hemorrhages;
- renal failure;
- ingestion of large amounts of salt into the body;
- diseases of the hematopoietic system;
- pathologies of infectious nature;
- overdose of medications, for example, cytostatics;
- penetration of hemolytic poisons into the body;
- iron deficiency;
- the need to take a lying position for a long period of time;
- long-term refusal to eat.
To establish the exact reason that the hematocrit is low, a comprehensive examination in a medical institution is necessary.
Symptoms
The clinical picture is fully dictated by the etiological factor. However, each variant of the pathology described has several specific external manifestations.
If the hematocrit in the blood of children is increased, the following symptoms may appear:
- severe or mild dizziness;
- breathing problems – parents note that the child has difficulty breathing;
- numbness of hands and feet;
- constant nausea that does not end with vomiting;
- weakness that persists on a permanent basis;
- fast fatiguability;
- decreased physical activity;
- partial loss of orientation in space.
A low level of hematocrit in the blood is represented by:
- general malaise;
- shortness of breath, appearing even at rest;
- rapid fatigue;
- increased heart rate;
- constant headaches;
- increased tearfulness;
- pale skin;
- deterioration of hair condition.
It is these signs that should arouse suspicion among parents and become an impetus for seeking help from a pediatrician.
Diagnostics
Low or high hematocrit in a child, including infants, is detected based on data from a general clinical blood test. This is a procedure approved for children and does not require any preparation.
Analysis of the main biological fluid includes several successive steps:
- collection of test material;
- transferring blood into a sterile flask or test tube;
- sending the vessel to a centrifuge for 1.5 hours, where the blood is separated into its component parts;
- receipt and interpretation of results by a hematologist;
- transfer of necessary information to a pediatrician or other doctor who ordered such a laboratory test.
To establish the exact cause, the following diagnostic procedures may be necessary:
- studying the medical history - to search for the underlying ailment;
- collection and analysis of life history to determine the influence of physiological factors;
- a thorough physical examination of the patient;
- studying the condition of the child’s skin and appearance;
- measuring temperature, blood tone and heart rate;
- a detailed survey of the patient or his parents to draw up a complete picture of the course of such a disorder, which may also indicate a provoking disease.
Based on individual indications, additional laboratory tests and instrumental procedures are prescribed, as well as consultations with other specialists.
Treatment
Increasing or decreasing hematocrit is carried out only using conservative therapeutic techniques. Treatment tactics are compiled individually for each patient, which depends on the etiology, main symptoms and course of the disease.
- Oral or intravenous administration of drugs. In the vast majority of cases, doctors prescribe medications containing iron, antianemic substances, vitamin and mineral complexes, as well as immunomodulators.
- Prolonged stay in the fresh air.
- Take no less and no more than 1.5 liters of liquid orally.
- Rationalization by parents of their children's lifestyle.
- Maintaining a special diet. If the hematocrit in the child’s blood has increased, then it is necessary to enrich the diet with foods that increase the level of fluid in the body. If NBT is reduced, then you should consume a large amount of ingredients that contain iron.
It should be noted that the solution to such a problem will not be complete without eliminating the underlying disease, and this can be done by conservative or surgical methods.
Prevention and prognosis
High or low hematocrit in children can be prevented by following general simple rules, since specific recommendations have not been developed to date.
Thus, prevention provided by parents combines:
- maintaining an active lifestyle;
- proper and nutritious nutrition, enriched with all the vitamins and nutrients necessary for a growing body;
- control over the amount of salt consumed;
- drinking enough liquid per day;
- avoiding the influence of stressful situations;
- rational intake of medications - strictly as prescribed by the clinician, with strict adherence to the daily norm and duration of use;
- early detection and comprehensive treatment of any of the above pathological causes;
- Regular visits to the pediatrician and annual comprehensive examination at a medical facility.
As for the prognosis, regardless of whether the child’s hematocrit is high or low, therapy is often favorable. However, ignoring the symptoms and completely refusing qualified help can lead to the formation of undesirable consequences of the underlying disease.
One of the important indicators included in the clinical blood test is the hematocrit number (Ht). This parameter allows you to estimate the volume of red cells in a child’s blood. Red blood cells perform an important function in the body - they supply tissues with oxygen and nutrients. This is possible due to the ability of hemoglobin, located in red cells, to bind to oxygen molecules in the lungs, transport them to the organs and give them to the cells, and then transfer carbon dioxide to the lungs. If the hematocrit is low or high, pathology may be developing in the body. Using this parameter, the doctor will be able not only to suspect the disease, but also to determine the degree of its severity.
How is the analysis carried out?
The hematocrit number is calculated during a general blood test. To do this, the blood is placed in a special tube called a hematocrit and centrifuged for one and a half hours. As a result, heavier formed elements, most of which are red blood cells, settle to the bottom of the tube, and plasma remains at the top.
Using the applied divisions, you can determine what volume the red cells occupy in relation to the plasma. In modern laboratories, the hematocrit number is calculated using hematological analyzers, which provide more accurate results. Despite the fact that the Ht indicator gives a quantitative, but not qualitative assessment of red blood cells, this analysis is considered quite informative. It is most often expressed as a percentage, sometimes it is written as a fraction - liter/liter.
Norms for children
The hematocrit norm varies depending on the age of the child:
- in newborns its level should be from 44 to 62%;
- up to 3 months – from 32 to 44%;
- from 3 months to a year – from 36 to 44%;
- from one to 10 years – from 37 to 44%.
Deviations from the norm
Deviation, both upward and downward, may indicate pathology, but may also have physiological reasons.
If Ht is increased in children, then the blood becomes thicker and more viscous due to an increase in the number of formed elements relative to the volume of the liquid part. This condition is dangerous because there is a risk of blood clots. If the norm is exceeded by 10-12% in a child under one year old, as a rule, this is due to physiology and should not cause concern. It’s another matter if a high level is observed in a child older than one year.
With a low hematocrit in children, the volume of red blood cells that supply oxygen and nutrients to the organs does not reach normal. In this regard, the acid-base balance in the child’s body is disturbed, and the cells experience oxygen starvation. As a result, your health worsens, namely weakness, rapid fatigue, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and pale skin.
This is how blood hematocrit is determined
Causes of high Ht
The hematocrit may be increased in the analysis if the child did not drink before donating blood, as well as in case of dehydration due to vomiting or an increase in body temperature. Increased Ht may be associated with pathological processes in which the concentration of red cells in the child’s blood increases. Among them:
- congenital and acquired renal diseases: neoplasms, polycystic disease, hydronephrosis;
- pathologies of the respiratory system;
- injuries and burns;
- heart disease;
- leukemia;
- peritonitis;
- erythremia;
- intestinal obstruction;
- oxygen starvation without symptoms;
- taking certain medications for a long time (mainly glucocorticosteroids).
Causes of low Ht
The hematocrit is considered to be reduced if it has dropped to 25%. A low level of this indicator in a blood test in children is a reason for additional examination to determine the cause. In most cases, the decrease is due to the following pathologies:
- slow formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow;
- increased rate of breakdown of red cells;
- hyperproteinemia, or increased levels of protein in the blood;
- overhydration, or thin blood;
- anemia;
- large volume of blood;
- acute bleeding.
Most often, in children, the hematocrit is reduced due to anemia. In this case, you need to see a doctor who will help you create the right diet and, if necessary, prescribe medications to increase Ht levels. You need to include more foods rich in iron in your food: apples, meat, liver, eggs, nuts. Doctors recommend using hematogen, which can be bought at any pharmacy.
Finally
A deviation from the norm in hematocrit in tests in children does not always indicate pathology and is not a basis for making a diagnosis. This indicator can only indicate the possible development of diseases and should always be considered in conjunction with a parameter such as hemoglobin. If the hematocrit is low or high, this is a reason to examine the child, identify the disease and begin timely treatment.
One of the important indicators included in the clinical blood test is the hematocrit number (Ht). This parameter allows you to estimate the volume of red cells in a child’s blood. Red blood cells perform an important function in the body - they supply tissues with oxygen and nutrients. This is possible due to the ability of hemoglobin, located in red cells, to bind to oxygen molecules in the lungs, transport them to the organs and give them to the cells, and then transfer carbon dioxide to the lungs. If the hematocrit is low or high, pathology may be developing in the body. Using this parameter, the doctor will be able not only to suspect the disease, but also to determine the degree of its severity.
How is the analysis carried out?
The hematocrit number is calculated during a general blood test. To do this, the blood is placed in a special tube called a hematocrit and centrifuged for one and a half hours. As a result, heavier formed elements, most of which are red blood cells, settle to the bottom of the tube, and plasma remains at the top.
Using the applied divisions, you can determine what volume the red cells occupy in relation to the plasma. In modern laboratories, the hematocrit number is calculated using hematological analyzers, which provide more accurate results. Despite the fact that the Ht indicator gives a quantitative, but not qualitative assessment of red blood cells, this analysis is considered quite informative. It is most often expressed as a percentage, sometimes it is written as a fraction - liter/liter.
Norms for children
The hematocrit norm varies depending on the age of the child:
- in newborns its level should be from 44 to 62%;
- up to 3 months – from 32 to 44%;
- from 3 months to a year – from 36 to 44%;
- from one to 10 years – from 37 to 44%.
Deviations from the norm
Deviation, both upward and downward, may indicate pathology, but may also have physiological reasons.
If Ht is increased in children, then the blood becomes thicker and more viscous due to an increase in the number of formed elements relative to the volume of the liquid part. This condition is dangerous because there is a risk of blood clots. If the norm is exceeded by 10-12% in a child under one year old, as a rule, this is due to physiology and should not cause concern. It’s another matter if a high level is observed in a child older than one year.
With a low hematocrit in children, the volume of red blood cells that supply oxygen and nutrients to the organs does not reach normal. In this regard, the acid-base balance in the child’s body is disturbed, and the cells experience oxygen starvation. As a result, your health worsens, namely weakness, rapid fatigue, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and pale skin.
This is how blood hematocrit is determined
Causes of high Ht
The hematocrit may be increased in the analysis if the child did not drink before donating blood, as well as in case of dehydration due to vomiting or an increase in body temperature. Increased Ht may be associated with pathological processes in which the concentration of red cells in the child’s blood increases. Among them:
- congenital and acquired renal diseases: neoplasms, polycystic disease, hydronephrosis;
- pathologies of the respiratory system;
- injuries and burns;
- heart disease;
- leukemia;
- peritonitis;
- erythremia;
- intestinal obstruction;
- oxygen starvation without symptoms;
- taking certain medications for a long time (mainly glucocorticosteroids).
Causes of low Ht
The hematocrit is considered to be reduced if it has dropped to 25%. A low level of this indicator in a blood test in children is a reason for additional examination to determine the cause. In most cases, the decrease is due to the following pathologies:
- slow formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow;
- increased rate of breakdown of red cells;
- hyperproteinemia, or increased levels of protein in the blood;
- overhydration, or thin blood;
- anemia;
- large volume of blood;
- acute bleeding.
Most often, in children, the hematocrit is reduced due to anemia. In this case, you need to see a doctor who will help you create the right diet and, if necessary, prescribe medications to increase Ht levels. You need to include more foods rich in iron in your food: apples, meat, liver, eggs, nuts. Doctors recommend using hematogen, which can be bought at any pharmacy.
Finally
A deviation from the norm in hematocrit in tests in children does not always indicate pathology and is not a basis for making a diagnosis. This indicator can only indicate the possible development of diseases and should always be considered in conjunction with a parameter such as hemoglobin. If the hematocrit is low or high, this is a reason to examine the child, identify the disease and begin timely treatment.
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.
Why is a low hematocrit dangerous?
Red blood cells supply nutrients and oxygen to organs. If their level drops, the organs begin to experience oxygen starvation, in addition, this leads to an imbalance in the acid-base balance.
External signs of low hematocrit:
- weakness;
- dyspnea;
- cardiopalmus;
- a person gets tired quickly;
- the skin becomes pale.
Important: a decreased hematocrit, like an increased one, is not a reason to immediately start treatment. These indicators tell the specialist in which direction to look for a possible problem, and only if additional tests reveal it, only then treatment is prescribed.
If a child’s blood test shows a low or high hematocrit level, there is no need to panic right away. This is not necessarily evidence of a dangerous disease. As we have already noted, a deviation from the norm can be caused by temporary factors, and in children under one year of age, a deviation of hematocrit from the norm within 10 percent is generally a common occurrence and is caused by normal physiological processes. When the child reaches the age of 12 months, the indicator should return to normal, but if even then the hematocrit number continues to remain above or below normal, additional examination should be carried out.
Timely identification of a possible problem contributes to effective treatment and will help the specialist choose the right course of preventive measures. Regular medical examination will help monitor your health, because it is always better to find out about a possible problem at the time of its inception than to deal with the consequences.
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A general blood test is performed to determine the child's health status. This test is performed to monitor blood flow and eliminate the possibility of changes in blood parameters. A child’s hematocrit can be reduced for a variety of reasons; its design depends on age, gender and some other physiological characteristics of the body. If a deviation has been identified in children, then it is necessary to respond to the changes in a timely manner.
The norm and what is a deviation
Immediately after the birth of the child, his analyzes are studied in detail. This is done in order to exclude the possibility of congenital pathologies. Do not forget that a child’s blood composition at 3 months cannot be the same as that of an adult.
Over time, the child’s body begins to adapt to the world around it, and the composition of cells begins to change. For a newborn, the hematocrit should be 44-62%, which is a higher value compared to an adult.
During the first 8-10 years, the indicator can be low or high, 37-44% is considered the norm. Changes begin as the child enters puberty. During this period, it is recommended to undergo periodic tests to constantly monitor the composition of the blood, since it should not be too thick.
Children under one year old undergo periodic checks. This is due to the fact that changes can occur almost every week. Afterwards, blood donation is performed every few years. When breastfeeding, the mother's condition also affects the child's body.
How often do you get your blood tested?
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Only as prescribed by the attending physician 30%, 949 votes
Once a year and I think that’s enough 18%, 554 vote
At least twice a year 15%, 460 votes
More than twice a year but less than six times 11%, 344 vote
I take care of my health and donate once a month 6%, 197 votes
I'm afraid of this procedure and try not to pass 4%, 135 votes
21.10.2019
A decrease in level to 25% indicates that the blood is too thin or blood loss is occurring in the body. To determine the reasons, tests are repeated.
Why is the level lowered?
A decrease in hematocrit in a child can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common are the following:
- Disorders occurring in the human bone marrow.
- Increased amount of proteins in the blood.
- Blood density is too thin.
- Anemia of varying complexity and origin.
- Various diseases that cause the breakdown of red blood cells.
- Various infectious diseases.
- Kidney failure.
- Various liver problems.
Prolonged bed rest can also cause a drop in this indicator. An insufficient level of physical activity is compensated by a proper diet. When conducting a blood test, attention is often paid to how the hematocrit level correlates with hemoglobin. A false result may be obtained if blood is collected incorrectly.
Anemia
Infants and children of other ages may develop anemia. The features of this problem are the following:
- Anemia means that hemoglobin is lower than normal. This moment causes a significant decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood.
- Hemoglobin is an important iron-containing protein, which means it is responsible for transporting oxygen to the body's tissues.
There are many reasons for this problem. Symptoms may include dry and pale skin, and a lack of sufficient protein causes the digestive system to malfunction.
Overhydration
The hematocrit in the blood is also reduced in the case of an excess amount of water, which may be contained in the entire body or individual parts. Overhydration is associated with the following symptoms:
- Clinical symptoms include swelling of the extremities and excess fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity.
- Some conditions in this condition can be life-threatening for the child. The disease in question causes heart rhythm disturbances and disruption of the digestive system.