4 year old needs HELP please

dawn112 · Dec 13, 2005

I recently started a thread asking for help from pediatric nurses concerning child neglect, I did not get one answer. I must resubmit this question again! This childs life depends on it.

When granddaughter was 2 years old, she was hospitalized with life threatening iron deficienct anemia(diet related)

I want to help my son get custody of her,CPS acts like this is no big deal.HMG 3.2 Received 5 units of blood

Questions: Is this a normal condition for a 2 year old. No one at hospital called CPS. I don't want to present this information if this is a common condition.

I am a LPN, work in assisted living. I do not know anything about pediatrics.

I have to leave to go to the court house for information. I will check on this thread when I get back. PLEASE RESPOND

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

I recently started a thread asking for help from pediatric nurses concerning child neglect, I did not get one answer. I must resubmit this question again! This childs life depends on it.
When granddaughter was 2 years old, she was hospitalized with life threatening iron deficienct anemia(diet related)
I want to help my son get custody of her,CPS acts like this is no big deal.HMG 3.2 Received 5 units of blood
Questions: Is this a normal condition for a 2 year old. No one at hospital called CPS. I don't want to present this information if this is a common condition.
I am a LPN, work in assisted living. I do not know anything about pediatrics.
I have to leave to go to the court house for information. I will check on this thread when I get back. PLEASE RESPOND

Anemia in and of itself is not indicative of abuse or neglect. Anemia is pretty common and is easily treated.

Wanting to help your son get custody of this child is a separate issue. Your best bet would be to consult an attorney specializing in custodial or domestic issues.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Dec 13, 2005

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007134.htm

See the article above re: anemia in children. We can't provide medical or legal advice, but I will suggest that there are causes of this that may not related to malicious intent, but plain ignorance.

dawn112 · Dec 13, 2005

Dear Chris. Appreciate your reply. So your saying a HMG of 3.2 could easily happen to any child. The mother is very neglectfull to say the least!

The doctor said she would have died in her sleep if she would not have medical attention, and the only reason that happened was because I made DIL go to WIC so granddaughter would have what she needed. WIC nurse said she never seen blood as thin as Granddaughters

I am off to courthouse to see what I can do. And yes I tried Attorneys. I lost 1000.00 on one and another attorney yelled at me the whole time and told me if I hire her she would charge me for this visit. CPS is a joke

Jayla · Dec 13, 2005

you might want to check out this article:

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1188.htm

aside from being potentially deadly, "in children, the growth rate may be slowed, and a decreased capability to learn is reported. in young children, severe iron deficiency anemia is associated with a lower iq, a diminished capability to learn, and a suboptimal growth rate." (from above link)

i hope the child is being treated with iron supplements--but be very careful because iron can be toxic if ingested in high doses. also, people suffering from id anemia often present with pica (eating non-nutritive substances like clay, ice, dirt, etc.) which can contribute to malabsorption of iron and possible tooth problems. this can also put the child at risk for lead poisoning.

another consideration is that:

"lead poisoning can mimic iron deficiency. in fact, lead intoxication can also cause anemia. the occurence of iron deficiency and lead poisoning simulataneously can be synergistic and devastating. anemia is more severe in these children and up to 50 percent more lead may be absorbed in children with an iron deficiency than in those with normal hemoglobin levels. children who are most likely to be exposed to lead are likely to have other risk factors, such as a poor diet, which can contribute to iron deficiency."

(from: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5536.html)

if this child lives in an older building (built before 1978) and/or in the inner city, she is at high risk for lead poisoning and the provider should check this. as a phn i take these matters very seriously and agree that you should too. i wish you the best of luck.

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 13, 2005

Dawn112,

I realize you are most concerned for the child. Indeed there may be some physical concerns related to the anemia, or something else entirely unrelated that only a qualified health care provider can discover.

We at Allnurses.com cannot give you any medical advice. We cannot help you with the legal issues as well.

I do hope you can get the help this child so richly deserves.

We all wish you and her well.