What if an anemic child won't respond to iron supplements?

Other cause: If a child is anemic iron deficiency is the most common but should respond to iron. There are other causes other than iron deficiency. Ask your pediatrician. Further testing may need to be done to find out

Wrong diagnosis?: There are many causes of anemia. If a child had thalassemia (mutation in one of the hemoglobin genes), iron supplementation would not solve the problem. That being said, if a child truly has low iron levels and is anemic, the #1 cause of not responding to iron is either the dose is too low, or the child is not taking it. Iron is notoriously difficult for kids to take. Either way, talk to your doc.