18^th World Hematology Congress

Pediatric Hematology

Paediatric haematology is a branch of haematology dealing with the general haematological problems seen in neonates or paediatric patients. Other issues such as blood counts, Polycythaemia, Neonatal anaemia, Anaemia of prematurity, Haemolytic anaemia in the neonate, Congenital red cell defects, acquired red cell defects, Hyperbilirubinemia, Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia, Acquired red cell aplasia, Neutropenia, leukaemia etc are dealt under Paediatric Haematology. Haematopoiesis is different in paediatric patients and neonates compared to adults. By birth, virtually all bone marrow cavities are actively hematopoietic. In infantile, haematopoiesis transfers to central bones (vertebrae, sternum, ribs, pelvis). The red cells of the new-born are macrocytic and the blood film from a new-born infant shows macrocytic normochromic cells, polychromasia, and a few nucleated red blood cells.

Unfluctuating in healthy infants may be a mild anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. Blood viscosity, oxygen delivery, Iron and transferring content, red cell antigens and many other features are different in neonates and children compared to the adults. Hence a thorough research enabling a proper diagnosis and treatment of all the haematological disorders in neonates and paediatric patients is highly necessary.