[Iron supplementation in a child with severe burns]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Burn Management
• Pediatric Hematology
• Nutritional Support in Pediatrics

Background:

• Non-intentional burns are a significant cause of childhood morbidity.
• Severe burns (affecting >10% body surface area) in children may necessitate iron supplementation during recovery.
• Pediatric burn patients often face complex nutritional challenges.

Observation:

• A 15-month-old boy with severe burns (20% body surface area) and polytrauma required a dermal graft and packed red blood cell transfusion.
• Post-burn, the child exhibited low hemoglobin and reduced reticulocyte hemoglobin content, alongside elevated mean corpuscular volume, indicating functional iron deficiency despite high ferritin levels.
• These hematologic findings suggested a functional iron insufficiency in the pediatric burn patient.

Findings:

• Functional iron insufficiency was diagnosed in a pediatric burn patient based on specific hematologic markers.
• Treatment with ferrous sulfate, along with age-appropriate dietary iron, led to a reticulocyte crisis and normalization of hematologic parameters.
• The administration of iron supplementation was effective in resolving functional iron deficiency in this severe pediatric burn case.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of monitoring and managing functional iron deficiency in children with severe burns.
• Early and appropriate iron supplementation can significantly improve hematologic recovery in pediatric burn survivors.
• Understanding functional iron deficiency is crucial for optimizing nutritional support and outcomes in pediatric burn care.