What is the lower limit of normal serum ferritin level in children?
In the general population, WHO defines low serum ferritin as <15 μg/L in adults and <12 μg/L in children [43].
What is a safe ferritin level?
The results may vary slightly among laboratories, but in general, normal ferritin levels range from 12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/mL) for males and 12 to 150 ng/mL for females.
Why would my ferritin drop?
Causes of low ferritin levels A lower-than-normal ferritin level can indicate that you have an iron deficiency, which can happen when you don’t consume enough iron in your daily diet. Another condition that affects iron levels is anemia, which is when you don’t have enough red blood cells for iron to attach to.
What’s the normal ferritin level for a 5 year old?
The normal range of ferritin in children increases as they age. In children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, the normal range is 6 to 24 ng/mL. In children between 5 and 9 years of age, the normal range increases to 10 to 55 ng/mL.
How is a ferritin test done for a child?
The ferritin test requires blood to be drawn the from the child and sent for testing 3. In adults and older children, blood will typically be drawn from a vein with a needle. In younger children, a lancet may be used to quickly puncture the skin and collect enough blood for the test.
What to do if your ferritin level is high?
High ferritin levels require continuous treatment, medication and blood tests to maintain a normal level. Sometimes, your doctor may suggest phlebotomy , a process through which the excess iron is removed by withdrawing blood from the body.
How long does it take for ferritin to return to normal?
It usually takes several weeks for ferritin levels to return to normal, and blood tests are repeated to recheck ferritin levels after the child has been taking iron supplements for a few months. Children usually get iron deficiency because they do not get enough iron in their diets 3.
What is the normal iron level in children?
The normal iron level in the body is 75 to 175 micrograms/dl for male adults. For females it’s 65 to 166. For children it’s 50 to 120. The normal level for babies range from 100 to 250 micrograms/dl.
What is a dangerous ferritin level?
Ferritin levels in men hover between 30 to 400 nanograms per milliliter. High ferritin levels may cause fatigue. High ferritin levels may cause muscle aches and pains. High ferritin levels may cause heart problems.
What to do for high ferritin level?
The treatment for high ferritin aims at reducing its level and bringing it back to normal. The most common treatment is therapeutic phlebotomy. In this procedure, blood is drawn from the body so as to remove iron from the organs where it has been stored in excess.
What is considered a low ferritin level?
Low ferritin levels are a medical problem which needs to be addressed. Ideally, the range of serum ferritin should be 30-400 ng/ml for men and 13-150 ng/ml for women. Anything below that is called low ferritin.