If a patient is considered at high risk for iron deficiency anemia, universal screening should be conducted at which ages?

If a patient is considered at high risk for iron deficiency anemia, universal screening should be conducted at which ages?

• A. 12 months and 15-30 months
• B. 6 months and 12 months
• C. 9 months and 18 months
• D. 24 months and 36 months

Answer: (A)

Screening for iron deficiency anemia in high-risk children is timed to catch iron depletion as stores run out and as growth and dietary changes raise iron needs during the second year of life. The first check around 12 months aligns with the typical end of the infant’s iron stores, by which time many children are transitioning to solid foods and may start consuming more cow’s milk or foods low in iron. A second screening between 15 and 30 months covers the period of rapid growth and evolving diet in toddlers, when iron deficiency can develop even after an initial normal result. This approach helps identify deficiency early, aiming to prevent possible growth and developmental impacts. Earlier screens occur before stores reliably deplete, and later screens can miss the window where intervention is most beneficial.

Screening for iron deficiency anemia in high-risk children is timed to catch iron depletion as stores run out and as growth and dietary changes raise iron needs during the second year of life. The first check around 12 months aligns with the typical end of the infant’s iron stores, by which time many children are transitioning to solid foods and may start consuming more cow’s milk or foods low in iron. A second screening between 15 and 30 months covers the period of rapid growth and evolving diet in toddlers, when iron deficiency can develop even after an initial normal result. This approach helps identify deficiency early, aiming to prevent possible growth and developmental impacts. Earlier screens occur before stores reliably deplete, and later screens can miss the window where intervention is most beneficial.