A profile of a small child is a research that allows for an overall assessment of the child's he alth. Thanks to them, it is possible to diagnose diseases that are sometimes dangerous for the youngest, even before the symptoms appear. Check what tests make up the profile of a young child, what are the norms and how to interpret the results.

A little child's profileis blood, urine and sometimes stool tests that allow the assessment of the child's he alth. Thanks to these tests, it is possible to recognize the diseases that children are struggling with in time and start appropriate treatment.

The toddler profile consists of three basic tests, such as urinalysis, complete blood count, and CRP. Depending on the laboratory, tests such as stool tests, iron, phosphorus and calcium levels, IgE, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase are included in the extended profile.

1. Urinalysis

A general urine test can detect metabolic diseases, kidney diseases and urinary tract infections. This test checks the urine pH, urine color, specific gravity, the presence of protein, sugar, blood, ketone bodies, bacteria, and the number of leukocytes (white blood cells).

The norms for this study are slightly different from the norms for adults. However, each laboratory gives the standards in which the result should fall. It's best to ask your doctor for its interpretation.

2. Blood count

A complete blood count is performed to assess your child's overall he alth. The norms for morphology also differ from those established for adults, e.g. hematocrit (HCT) for children up to 15 years of age is 35-39% (37-47% for women and 40-51% for men). In this case, it is also best to see a doctor who will check if the results are within the normal range.

3. CRP (the so-called acute phase protein)

The assessment of its concentration allows you to answer the question whether the body is inflamed.

  • Norm for this test in a child: less than 5 mg / l

Increase in CRP concentration indicates inflammation.

4. Stool test

Examination of a child's stool is mainly performed to assess whether there are any parasite eggs in it (the so-called parasitological examination). In this case, the test is repeated several times, with an interval of several days, thereforeyou pass more stool than other tests. Pinworms are most often diagnosed in young children.

CHECK>>Intestinal PARASITES in children: pinworms, lamblia, human roundworm, intestinal nematode and whipworm

5. Evaluation of the concentration of iron, calcium and phosphorus

These three elements are especially important for a young child's development. Iron is involved in the formation of red blood cells, and also supports the work of the immune system (and thus fighting infection) and the brain. An excess of this element may suggest haemochromatosis (a metabolic disease associated with the excessive absorption of iron from food), and a deficiency anemia.

In turn, calcium and phosphorus are the elements responsible for bone mineralization, therefore their proper concentration is necessary for the proper growth of a child. Their shortage may lead, among others, to to rickets.

Standards for this test in a child:

  • iron - infants: 36-156 µg / dl; children from 6 months to 15 years of age: 43-184 µg / dl
  • calcium - children 0-10 days - 7.6-10.4 mg / dl; 10 days-2 years - 9.0-11 mg / dL; 2-12 years old - 8.8-10.8 mg / dl; 12-18 years: 8.4-10.2 mg / dL
  • phosphorus - 1.3-2.26 mmol / l

6. Total IgE

IgE antibody testing is performed in order to diagnose allergies as well as parasitic diseases. Exceeding the norms means that the child is struggling with an allergy, but in order to find a specific allergen, specific IgE should be tested.

Standards for this test in a child:

  • children before the age of 1 - 30 units / ml
  • children between 7 and 10 years old - about 300 units / ml

Depending on the symptoms appearing in the child, the increased concentration of the IgE antibody may indicate, inter alia, for hay fever, atopic bronchitis or skin inflammation or parasitic diseases.

7. Bilirubin

The level of bilirubin (a yellow pigment, derived from the breakdown of red blood cells) is measured to assess how the liver is working.

Standards for this test:

  • newborns 1st day: up to 4 mg / dl (up to 68 µmol / l)
  • newborns 3 days: up to 10 mg / dl (up to 17 µmol / l)
  • newborns 1 month: up to 1 mg / dl (up to 17.1 µmol / l)
  • older children - up to 1.1 mg / dL (up to 19 µmol / L)

The increase in bilirubin is caused, among others, by in the course of jaundice.

8. Alkaline (alkaline) phosphatase

Alkaline (alkaline) phosphatase, or ALP, is an enzyme that is mainly (50-60%) produced in bones, and therefore participates in the process of their mineralization. ALP levels in the blood are higher in children and adolescents than in adults withdue to the growth process, and the largest between the ages of 7 and 15. For example, boys aged 10-11 have ALP levels of 135-530 U / l, and girls aged 130-560 U / l. In turn, in boys between 16 and 19 years of age - 48-261 U / l, and in girls at the age of 40-136 U / l.

Increased concentration of alkaline phosphatase may be due to, inter alia, about the deficiency of vitamin D or calcium and phosphorus in the diet, and its decrease means, among others excessive supply of vitamin D or hypophosphatazenia - lack of proper calcium deposition in bones and bone growth disorders.

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