Iron deficiency from too much cow's milk a 'hidden health crisis' for toddlers
Paediatricians across Australia are concerned about a jump in iron deficiency in young children due to excess cow's milk, and the need to better educate parents about the issue.
Three Queensland toddlers died in the past two years due to severe iron deficiency anaemia caused by drinking excessive amounts of cow's milk. Dr Sally Campbell, a blood specialist, recommends that children aged one to five should consume no more than two cups of cow's milk per day to avoid this issue. Children's Health Queensland is working to educate parents on this matter.
Professor Desiree Silva, a paediatrician, describes this as a "hidden health crisis," with over 56% of children under three in Perth having low iron levels. Early intervention is crucial, as the toddlers who died had underlying health issues that were exacerbated by their extreme iron deficiency anaemia. Cow's milk directly interferes with iron absorption, so parents should introduce iron-rich foods early and limit cow's milk intake. Queensland Health is updating the Red Book with this information to raise awareness.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
