An 18-month-old child is brought with a haemoglobin of 7.5 g/dL, pallor, koilonychia, and delayed motor milestones. The mother has been exclusively breastfeeding without complementary foods. The most common cause of anaemia in this age group in India, and the recommended preventive iron supplementation schedule under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme for this age group is:

• A Folate deficiency anaemia; folic acid 5 mg/week
• B Iron deficiency anaemia; iron syrup 1 mg/kg/day from 6 months to 59 months ✓
• C Iron deficiency anaemia; iron syrup 2 mg/kg/day from birth
• D Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia; cyanocobalamin injection monthly

Explanation

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in India, especially in children 6–24 months due to depletion of fetal iron stores and inadequate dietary intake. Under Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), children 6–59 months receive iron syrup at 1 mg elemental iron/kg/day for prevention. Delayed introduction of complementary foods with iron-rich items is a key risk factor for IDA in this age group.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.