Iron Deficiency Anemia in Infancy and Early Childhood

Abstract

Introduction: iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent health issues affecting psychological and physical well-being of children in infancy and early childhood in Pakistan.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to find the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in infancy and early childhood along with its gender and age based variation.

Methodology: This is a cross sectional study conducted at the department of pediatrics in government hospital, Karachi from November 2022 to November 2023 on 300 patients with age less than 11 years of age. Demographic characteristics were noted and sample was collected to perform complete blood count. In patients with hemoglobin level less than predefined criteria serum ferritin levels were performed and level of less than15 μg/L were taken as a standard.

Result: the mean age of the sample was 5.1 ± 4.7 with 54.3% males and 45.67% females. From male patients 60.12 % suffering from iron deficiency anemia, 19.02 had anemia due to other cause and 20.86% were not anemic. In female patients, 73.72% had iron deficiency anemia, and 10.95% had non-iron deficiency anemia. On the other hand, in the age group under a year, 49.21% (P = 0.05) were anemic and the age range of 1-3 years 60.27% (0.04) had iron deficiency anemia. A startling 82.02% (P=0.03) anemia prevalence was reported in the 4–7 years age range. Comparably, 68% (P=0.04)of patients in the 8–11 age range were anemic

Conclusion: The study's thorough examination of the demographics of gender and age group highlighted important correlations between these factors and the frequency of iron deficiency anemia in infancy and early childhood.