Zipporah M., 3

Zipporah is a little girl who enjoys running and playing with her cat. She hasn't started going to school yet, but she likes to doodle on any paper she finds. She can also say some letters of the alphabet because she lives near a school, and she hears the other kids reciting the alphabet every morning. Lately, Zipporah's mom has noticed that she's not as active as she used to be, and she's lost some weight. About two weeks ago, her mom noticed that Zipporah's feet were swelling, but she hasn't been able to take her to the hospital because she doesn't have enough money.

Zipporah and her brother Esau were both admitted in the hospital to be treated for protein energy malnutrition and anaemia. Zipporah was put on nutritional supplements as an in-patient and tests were done to confirm that there is no superimposing infection that may affect the child. She was also put on treatment for anaemia. Both of the siblings improved their state of health after several days of treatment, and were discharged home.

If left untreated, anaemia can lead to fatigue, weakness, paleness, shortness of breath, and reduced overall quality of life. In severe cases, untreated anaemia can result in complications such as heart problems, impaired cognitive function, and compromised immune response, underscoring the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent these health issues. Treatments for anaemia might involve taking supplements or having medical procedures. Eating a healthy diet might prevent some forms of anemia.