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Pediatric Iron Infusion in Edmonton
When your child needs a pediatric iron infusion, the visit should feel calm and safe. Solis Medical Clinic in Edmonton plans each infusion around children and teens, with a dose based on weight and a parent or guardian close by. IV iron skips the stomach, so it avoids the upset pills can cause. It can also refill iron in a few visits instead of months.
Why Choose Solis for Pediatric Iron Infusions?
Comfort & Calm
An infusion space designed to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
Expert Team
Onsite Anesthesiologist and Registered Nurses, ACLS and BLS certified.
Emergency Ready
Fully equipped to handle unexpected emergencies, with safety first.
Children & Teens
Doses are set by your child's weight, and a parent or guardian stays for the visit.
When is an iron infusion needed for a child?
Iron drops or pills come first for most children. An iron infusion is the next step when bloodwork confirms low iron and oral iron has not worked. Learn the difference between oral and IV iron.
- Drops or pills have not raised iron after a month or more
- Side effects or refusal stopped the drops or pills
- Celiac disease, Crohn's or colitis blocks iron absorption
- Heavy periods drain iron faster than pills replace it
Ferritin levels in children
Ferritin is the blood test for stored iron. A child can have normal hemoglobin and still have low iron stores. Infection raises ferritin, so a test taken while your child is sick can look normal. Read more about ferritin levels and the iron blood work test.
The World Health Organization uses these ferritin cut-offs for iron deficiency:
- Under 5 years: below 12 µg/L, or below 30 µg/L with an infection or inflammation
- Ages 5 to 19: below 15 µg/L, or below 70 µg/L with an infection or inflammation
What does my child's ferritin result mean?
The WHO cutoffs above show when iron may be low. Alberta Precision Laboratories lists 15 µg/L as the low end of its lab range for children 6 months to under 16 years. Your child's doctor also checks the blood count, symptoms and recent illness before deciding if IV iron is needed.
Signs of low iron in a child
Low iron builds slowly. It can affect focus, mood and energy before anemia shows up on a blood test.
- Tired and cranky even after sleep
- Pale skin, lips or inner eyelids
- Poor appetite or slow weight gain
- Trouble focusing at school
What causes low iron in children?
An infusion refills iron stores, but it does not fix the cause. The cause needs its own plan, or iron drops again. For toddlers, the Canadian Paediatric Society advises no more than 500 mL of cow's milk a day after 12 months.
- Toddlers: too much cow's milk
- School-age children: meals low in meat, beans, lentils and iron-fortified cereal
- Teens: heavy periods
- Any age: celiac disease, Crohn's disease or colitis
Are IV iron infusions safe for children?
IV iron is used in children's hospitals and is usually well tolerated. Most side effects are mild and short, such as itching, rash, flushing, headache or aches for a day.
Two risks are worth knowing. Some iron medicines can lower blood phosphate for a few weeks, which usually causes no symptoms. And if iron leaks out of the vein, it can leave a brown stain on the skin that may not fade. Tell the nurse right away about burning or swelling at the IV.
Serious allergic reactions are rare, and our team is trained and equipped to treat them. Tell us about asthma, allergies, past reactions and every medicine your child takes. After you leave, call 9-1-1 for trouble breathing, face or throat swelling, or fainting. For other concerns, call Health Link at 8-1-1. Read more about iron infusion side effects.
Visit the West Edmonton clinic
Solis is on 118 Avenue in West Edmonton, with free parking. Families come from across Edmonton and nearby towns. In cold and flu season, call us if your child gets sick before the visit, because an infection can change both the bloodwork and the timing.
Frequently asked questions
Can toddlers get iron infusions?
Yes, IV iron can be given to young children when it is needed. Most toddlers with low iron do well with iron drops and less cow's milk. A very young child with severe anemia is usually cared for by a pediatric specialist. Call us with your child's age and weight to ask if Solis is the right place.
Should I give iron to my baby or toddler?
Only if a doctor advises it. The Canadian Paediatric Society says full-term babies who are breastfed or get iron-fortified formula do not need an iron supplement. Start iron-rich foods at about 6 months, and limit cow's milk to 500 mL a day after 12 months. Keep iron pills away from small children, because too much iron is dangerous.
Does PediaSure help with iron?
Nutrition drinks like PediaSure have some added iron, but they do not treat iron deficiency. Drinking them in place of meals can also crowd out iron-rich foods. A child with low ferritin needs a treatment plan from their doctor.
Do iron infusions help right away?
Not right away. New red blood cells start to appear in about a week, and hemoglobin rises over the next few weeks. Most children get more energy as their levels climb. Ferritin tested in the first days after an infusion reads falsely high, so wait for the retest date your doctor gives.
How many iron infusions will my child need?
The number of visits depends on the medicine your child's doctor orders, your child's weight and blood test results. Some medicines need one or two visits. Others need several smaller doses. Solis will confirm the plan after reviewing the referral.
What not to do after an iron infusion?
Do not retest iron too early, and do not restart iron pills unless the doctor says to. Watch the IV site for a day or two and call us about pain, swelling or leaking. Otherwise your child can eat, drink and go back to normal play.
Related care and patient guides
Start with a referral
Ask your child's doctor or nurse practitioner to fax us a prescription with recent ferritin and hemoglobin results. We call you within 24 to 48 hours to book.
Call to BookPhysician Referral