Impact of weekly treatment with ferrous sulfate on hemoglobin level, morbidity and nutritional status of anemic infants

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto do tratamento com sulfato ferroso, administrado semanalmente, sobre o nível de hemoglobina, morbidade e estado nutricional de lactentes anêmicos da Zona da Mata Meridional de Pernambuco. MÉTODOS: Estudo de intervenção de base comunitária, controlado, realizado com 378 lactentes acompanhados até 18 meses. Foram selecionadas aleatoriamente 245 crianças para avaliação da hemoglobina aos 12 meses. As crianças foram distribuídas em três grupos de estudo: dois com tratamento semanal de 45 mg de ferro elementar, dos 12 aos 18 meses de vida (69 crianças com anemia moderada/grave e 111 com anemia leve) e um sem tratamento, constituído de 65 crianças sem anemia. As 133 crianças restantes constituíram o grupo controle, utilizado para comparação do estado nutricional e da morbidade. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de anemia foi de 73,5 por cento aos 12 meses de vida. Após 6 meses de tratamento, houve recuperação do nível de hemoglobina para valores > 11,0 g/dL em 42,3 por cento dos lactentes anêmicos. O aumento médio foi de 1,6 g/dL, sendo maior (2,5 g/dL) para o grupo com nível inicial mais baixo de hemoglobina. Das crianças sem anemia e não tratadas, 40,3 por cento tornaram-se anêmicas ao término do acompanhamento, com uma redução média do nível de hemoglobina de 0,5 g/dL. Observou-se um ganho de peso significativamente maior nos grupos com tratamento, o mesmo não ocorrendo para crescimento linear e duração da diarréia. CONCLUSÕES: A redução da prevalência da anemia em menos da metade das crianças recebendo sulfato ferroso em doses semanais e o surgimento de anemia nos lactentes não anêmicos e sem suplementação de ferro são indicativos da necessidade de estratégias eficazes para seu controle.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of weekly treatment with ferrous sulfate on hemoglobin level, morbidity and nutritional status in a sample of anemic infants from Zona da Mata Meridional in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: A controlled, community-based intervention was carried out with 378 infants who were followed-up for 18 months. Hemoglobin level was measured at 12 months in a total of 245 children randomly selected. Participating infants were divided into three groups: two received 45 mg of elemental iron weekly, from 12 to 18 months of life (69 children with moderate/severe anemia, and 111 with mild anemia); the third group was composed of 65 non-anemic children, who received no intervention. The remaining 133 children constituted the control group, for comparisons on nutritional status and morbidity. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 73.5 percent at 12 months of life. After 6 months of treatment, 42.3 percent of anemic children reached hemoglobin levels > 11.0 g/dL. The mean increase was 1.6 g/dL, being higher (2.5 g/dL) in the group with lower levels of hemoglobin at baseline. Children without anemia at baseline received no treatment, and 40.3 percent of them became anemic at the end of follow-up, with a mean decrease of 0.5 g/dL in hemoglobin levels. A significantly greater weight gain was observed in the two treated groups, while no significant improvements were seen in linear growth and duration of diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that less than half the children receiving ferrous sulfate recovered from anemia at the end of follow-up, along with the development of anemia in many untreated, previously non-anemic infants, suggests the need for effective control strategies.

Factors involved in Schistosoma mansoni infection in rural areas of northeast Brazil

Two contiguous villages in Tracunhaem country (State of Pernambuco) endemic for schistosomiasis, were studied: Itapinassu (138 inhabitants) and Sao Joaquim (91 inhabitants). Agriculture predominates in the former region while ceramics is the main activitiy in the latter. Although no statistical difference was found regarding prevalence, severe infection (<400 epg) predominated in Itapinassu, probably related to the kind of occupation. No association was found between parasite burden and severity of disease, in spite of the high infection rates for Schistosoma mansoni in both communities (aprox. 60 per cent). Typical epidemiological features of schistosomiasis such as age-realted prevalences and intensities of infection (high in children, low in adults) were also mutual characteristics. Nutritional status determined through anthropometric evaluation was carried out by measuring specific anthropometric indicators. A deficit of energy intake, as well as vitamin A and riboflavin deficiencies were detected. The prevalence of moderate or severe undernutrition in patients under 18 years old was 21.9 per cent in Itapinassu and 24.1 per cent in Sao Joaquim. In this group as association was found between prevalence of schistosomiasis and chronic undernutrition. Similarly, for patients over 18 years old the prevalence of undernutrition was higher than 20 per cent. However, in this case no association between nutritional status and either prevalence of schistosomiasis or parasite burden could be detected. The two communities had not been treated for eight years.