RESUMO
The adherence to treatment of iron deficiency anemia often is poor in both developed and developing countries. The current standard therapy is oral ferrous sulfate administered 3 times daily. It is possible that adherence would improve with a single-dose daily treatment regimen. To compare single versus thrice daily ferrous sulfate for treatment of iron deficiency anemia in young children. Quasi experimental study Setting: Children Department Military Hospital Rawalpindi. From [01 Jan to 31 Mar 05 and 03 Jul to 02 Oct 05]. Total 250 patients of iron deficiency anemia [hemoglobin values: 7.0 to 9.9 gm/dl and serum ferritin values: 10 ng/ml or less] were identified. Children divided into two groups and matched on the basis of age; and gender. One group [n=125] received ferrous sulfate once daily and the control group [n=125] received ferrous sulfate thrice daily at a total dose of 6 mg/kg/day of elemental iron for 2 months. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin values were measured as baseline and at the end of the study. Successful treatment of anemia [target hemoglobin > 10 gm/dl] occurred in 81.42 of the single dose nd in 79.83% of thrice daily dose groups and the side effects were minimal between the two groups. A single versus a 3 times daily dose of ferrous sulfate resulted in a similar rate of successful treatment of iron deficiency anemia, without significant side effects