Prevalnce of iron defeciency and thalassaemia trait in children at paediatric department of L.U.H.

ABSTRACT

Aims and To assess the prevalence of Iron deficiency and thalassaemia trait in children attending Paediatric Department of Liaquat University Hospital. Subject and Setting: 50 children from paediatric ward and 50 from paediatric O.P.D were selected by simple randomization. Both males and females from 9 months to 10 years were included during study period of November 2002 to Jan 2003. Study was conducted in Liaquat University Hospital which is a tertiary care referral hospital. All investigations were carried out in new research pathology laboratory of Liaquat University Hospital. Clinical history and examination was done in all cases and 3 investigations including complete blood count, serum iron levels and haemoglobin electrophoresis were conducted in all cases. Iron deficiency with serum iron < 20mcg /dl was seen in 51% of cases with no significant difference between male and females, but was documented to be lowest in < 5 years old compared to 5-10 years age. 74% children were anaemic with severe anaemia [Hb < 6gm/dl] in 7% moderate anaemia [Hb- 6-9gm/dl] in 28% both more commonly documented in admitted cases. Prevalence of thalassaemia trait was 11%, with 2 more cases diagnosed as thalassaemia intermedia. Raised Hb A2 was considered as a normal variant with normal absolute valves in further 7% cases. Both iron deficiency anaemia and thalassaemia trait are common in our paediatric population. We need health education nutritional counselling and iron supplementation to prevent iron deficiency especially in view of recent association of iron deficiency with delayed growth, development and behaviour problems. Thalassaemia also needs proper screening and prevention as yet no effective or easily available curative treatment is possible