Iron and zinc levels in blood of children with PICA

ABSTRACT

The aim of study was to determine the levels of serum iron and plasma zinc in toddlers with pica. Prospective analytic type of study. Over a span of 6 months. The study was conducted in Pediatrics Outpatient department at Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan. The thirty children of both sexes in age group of 1-3 years, presented with anemia and pica were included in study. They had no other apparent cause of anemia other than nutritional deficiencies. They were physically and mentally well. The clinical history, feeding pattern and .clinical examination were recorded. Their blood was evaluated for iron and zinc to find relation of pica with these micronutrients. The Hemoglobin [Hb%]; blood smears were examined for RBCs morphology. Stool samples were examined for occult blood and intestinal parasites. All children were anemic; milk was the main source of nutrition till 3years of age and iron rich food like meat was deficit .They were involved in earth eating [geophagia]. They belonged to poor socioeconomic conditions. The laboratory reports of their blood smears detected microcytic hypochromic anemia, low serum iron and normal plasma zinc. Hb% level was < llg/dl, BUN and urine examination was normal. Stool examination detected intestinal parasites. Pica [Geophegia] in our study is strongly associated with iron deficiency anemia [IDA]. The zinc deficiency was not found in these children