Iron deficiency anemia; single verses three times daily doses of ferrous sulphate

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