If your adolescent child between the ages of 10 and 19 develops anemia, it can adversely affect his or her daily activities, learning, and future employment. At this stage, your child has an active lifestyle. They attend school, classes, as well as various courses. Also, they actively participate in sports during this period. Their muscle growth, height, and hair growth are best done during adolescence. Therefore, the body's iron requirement is slightly increased during this period. However, some bad eating habits can reduce the amount of iron your baby gets. Did you know that one out of every three children in Sri Lanka suffers from anemia?
What are the possible problems for your teenage child due to anemia?
- Decreased activity.
- Frequent illness.
- Feeling overwhelmed, even in small tasks.
- Feeling lazy.
- Memory impairment.
- Frequent fatigue.
- Pale eyes.
- Frequent irritability.
- Hair loss.
- Anorexia.
What can be done to avoid this nutritional problem?
It is very important to have a healthy, balanced diet for your child's main meals. It is also important for the baby to take iron, folic acid, and vitamin C to increase blood flow.
To do this, take 1 tablet of iron, 1 tablet of folic acid, and 1 tablet of vitamin C once a week for 24 weeks (6 months). Before taking this nutritional supplement, it is best to take a 500 mg tablet of Mebendazole as an anthelmintic. Thus, taking this nutritional supplement for 6 months every year can prevent anemia.
How should these pills be taken?
Iron, folic acid, and vitamin C tablets should be given once a week for 24 weeks (6 months). This should be done every year. Take these pills, about an hour after breakfast or dinner, and give them to drink with water. Also, when storing these tablets, it is important to keep them airtight in a dry bottle. This is because the properties of these pills can be almost completely lost if exposed to wind. Under no circumstances should these be wrapped in newspaper or other paper. If so, the quality of the tablets will be lost.
Do you have difficulty taking these pills?
When taking these pills, problems such as nausea, vomiting, headache, and black stools may occur. But, there is no need to panic or be afraid as such difficulties will be avoided in a few days.
Why are these pills only given to teenagers?
Adolescents are special. This is because it is during this period that their body grows and rises. Also, adolescents are often more likely to miss the main meal, which increases their risk of developing anemia. One of the reasons for this is that children at this age are reluctant to eat iron-rich foods such as fish, meat and herbs. Because the health of your child who is about to take over the future of the country is important to the country and the nation, you have a responsibility to save your teenage child from anemia. Also, if your child already has anemia, it is important to take this nutritional supplement to cure it.
What are the benefits to your child of taking these pills?
- Being healthy.
- Being diligent.
- Being intelligent.
- Development of memory.
- If your baby is a girl, you can prevent future anemia during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It also reduces the risk of miscarriage.
