Megaloblastic anaemia in hospitalised children.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the profile of megaloblastic anaemia in hospitalised children. Study design: Prospective study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand. Subjects: 53 children between 6 months and 14 years of age were studied for megaloblastic anaemia. Result: Majority of patients (48.8%) were in the older age group, and only 11% were seen in infancy. Folate and vit B12 deficiency was seen in 55% and 88% cases respectively. 44% had combined deficiency of folate and vitamin B12.11% had pure folate and 44% had pure vitamin B12 deficiency. 66% cases with microcytic blood picture, 70%with dimorphic picture, and 90% of pancytopenia patients on marrow examination had a megaloblastic picture. 60% had malnutrition, and majority belonged to the lower socio-economic strata of society.