ABSTRACT
In a coastal population in whom anaemia was common, two randomised controlled trials were undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of treating iron deficiency anaemia at a dispensary and at primary schools. For anaemic adult villagers treated at a dispensary, one dose of tetrachlorethylene for hookworm infection and a once per week visit to collect medicines were found to be satisfactory. A small but significant increase in haemoglobin level was produced by four weeks oral iron therapy, but this was only maintained after seven months by the group that had initially also received tetrachlorethylene. In children (5-14 years) no significant rise in haemoglobin level was obtained by using oral iron and/or TCE, either at the dispensary or at the primary schools. This suggests that malaria was a more potent cause of anaemia in these children.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Hypochromic/drug therapy , Ferrous Compounds/therapeutic use , Hookworm Infections/drug therapy , Iron/therapeutic use , Tetrachloroethylene/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Anemia, Hypochromic/etiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Clinical Trials as Topic , Hemoglobins/analysis , Hookworm Infections/complications , Humans , Malaria/complications , TanzaniaABSTRACT
In this relatively iton deficient population both multiparous and primiparous pregnant women had similar serum iron levels. The mothers' levels had a linear correlation with the cord serum levels, but the lowest mean cord levels were above 100 mug./dl. maternal and cord blood haemoglobin levels,birthweights and placental weights showed no constant relation to the serum iron levels, and even in anaemic mothers the fetus was relatively non-asaemic with a haemoglobin level aroun 13 g./dl. In non-anaemic mothers the cord blood haemogloin rose rapidly and progressively.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Hypochromic/blood , Fetal Blood/chemistry , Fetus/physiology , Growth , Iron/blood , Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic/blood , Birth Weight , Female , Hemoglobinometry , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Malaria/complications , Male , Maternal-Fetal Exchange , Organ Size , Parity , Placenta/anatomy & histology , PregnancySubject(s)
Parasitic Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Anemia/etiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Health Surveys , Hemoglobins/analysis , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Parasitic Diseases/blood , Parasitic Diseases/complications , Rural Population , TanzaniaABSTRACT
Serum uric acid levels have been determined in random samples of 9-10% of a population of 3000 each in three rural areas of Tanzania. The levels in females are lower than in males. As far as age is concerned the levels in both sexes rise with age but the rate is slower in females resulting in a widening difference with increasing age. Above uric acid levels of 6 mg% the frequency occurrence of 'hyperuricaemia' is equal. The normal distribution of levels was 2.5-5.5 mg% in males and 2.0-4.5 mg% in females. Compared with results among different racial groups elsewhere these levels are lower.
