Hello,
     Not all anemia in children is iron defienciency anemia.  I have a family
whos parents have beta thalassemia (this is just one of the many hemoglobin
abnormalities).  This is a congental abnormality in the hemoglobin or the iron
carrying protein of the red blood cell of which there are 4 moieties.  It
appears that the patient is anemic because they will have a low hemoglobin,
hematocrit and the red blood cell indices (size and shape) will be abnormal.
Usually the number of redblood cells is adequate or normal.  If they were to
have a test on their iron stores this would be normal.  They almost never test
the iron stores of children, if the hemoglobin and hematocrit are low they
assume it is iron and supplement.  In the case of the child of my two patients
the daughter had inherited the beta thalassemia.  She did not have low iron
stores.  She also happened to be formula fed.  So, you may want to ask them to
test her iron stores.  It is another blood test which I know they don't like
to do alot of sticks on children but it would prove a point.  Just a thought.
     Most hemoglobinopathies occur in blacks, hispanics, asian and
mediterainian backgrounds which include much of the US population.

                                                           Sincerely,

                                                           Cynthia S. Marske
DO