Iron Profile Estimations in Children of Behavioural Disorders.

ABSTRACT

Background: Iron deficiency causes abnormal dopaminergic neurotransmission and may contribute to behavioral disorders. Objective: Iron Profile Estimation in Children (5-14 yrs) of Behavioral Disorders. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Child Guidance Clinic of University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital. The sample consisted of Forty children in the age group of 5 to 14 years suffering from behavioral disorders. Haemoglobin , Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, Serum Iron ,Total Iron Binding Capacity, Peripheral smear, Percentage transferrin saturation , serum ferritin estimations were done. The behavioral symptoms were scored on Achenback Child Behavior Checklist. Results: Iron deficiency anemia was present in 75% of the children with behavioral symptoms. Serum ferritin was abnormal (<20micrograms/litre) in 67.8% of the children. There was statistically significant association between pica and iron deficiency anemia(p<0.001).Serum ferrittin levels correlated negatively with behavioral symptoms (r=-.067), though not significant.