Under the National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI), a 3-year-old child with confirmed anemia (Hb 8 g/dL) who is already receiving iron and folic acid supplementation should be given therapeutic doses for a specific duration. The recommended therapeutic dose of elemental iron for a child aged 2-5 years is:
- A 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days
- B 2 mg/kg/day for 1 month
- C 3 mg/kg/day for 2 months ✓
- D 6 mg/kg/day for 3 months
Correct answer: C. 3 mg/kg/day for 2 months
Explanation
Under NIPI, therapeutic dose for children 2-5 years is 3 mg/kg/day elemental iron for 2 months. Prophylactic dose is 20 mg elemental iron with 0.1 mg folic acid weekly. Option B is a common distractor reflecting partial recall. The 6 mg/kg dose is for older children (6-10 years) or adults.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.