Physiological anemia of infancy and anemia of prematurity

It is important to recognize the significance and magnitude of the physiological anemia of the infant. Wherever necessary, appropriate supportive therapy using nutritional factors must be considered. Prematurity, dietary history, clinical condition, initial hemoglobin value and the volume of iatrogenic blood loss should all help in making judgments whether the anemia is physiological or pathological in origin. It is difficult to make arbitrary recommendations that will apply to all infants under all circumstances. Decisions to transfuse any infant should be based on the infants' cilnical condition and not merely on an arbitrarily selected laboratory value. In the breast fed premature infant, prophylactic iron supplementation is essential.