A General Pediatrician's Approach to Anemia in Childhood.

Anemia may be defined as a reduction in red blood cell mass or blood hemoglobin concentration. Physiologically, this represents a hemoglobin level that is too low to meet cellular oxygen demands. Practically, the lower limit of normal is set at 2 standard deviations below the mean based on age, gender, and ethnicity/race. Anemia can lead to impaired growth, development, and poor neurocognitive outcome. As such, it is essential for pediatricians to recognize and conduct appropriate testing for a child with anemia. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(1):e10-e16.].