Final answer:
Preterm infants one month after birth should receive an enteral iron dosage of 5-6 mg/kg/d. Only about 10% of ingested iron is absorbed, necessitating careful supplementation. Adequate iron intake is crucial for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Recommended Daily Enteral Iron Dose for Preterm Infants
Preterm infants have a significant need for iron supplementation after birth. The recommended daily enteral iron dose for preterm infants beginning one month after birth is 5-6 mg/kg/d. It's important to note that only about 10% of ingested iron is absorbed. The daily requirement for infants is generally between 10-15 mg. However, due to the premature nature of these infants, their needs are more specific and supplementation should be carefully monitored.
Good sources of iron include red meats, shellfish, seeds, nuts, and legumes, and some breakfast cereals that have been fortified. For a child below 12 months, medications such as ferrous ammonium citrate sweetened with glycerine can be used. When considering anemia, which is common in preterm infants, the hemoglobin level may be between 5 to 9 g/100 ml of blood. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia typically responds well to oral iron therapy, which includes preparations like ferrous sulphate and ferrous fumarate.