Hemoglobin Content of the Blood of Infants

Studies of anemia in infants await the establishment of a normal hemoglobin curve for children. A survey of the literature reveals that investigations on this subject are not only few but conflicting in results. There seems to be general agreement, however, that the hemoglobin level is very high at birth and that it falls rapidly during the first few weeks of life. A level somewhat lower than the average adult value is soon reached and remains fairly constant throughout infancy. Average values given by different workers for any particular age during this period vary from about 50 to 100 per cent of an arbitrary adult male standard. It is not surprising to find such wide differences, because the standards which have been used vary from 13.8 to 17.2 Gm. of hemoglobin per hundred cubic centimeters of blood. Results for children based on a standard established for adults are misleading.