Abstract
A Cross sectional multicentre study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Iron deficiency (ID) and Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in children using Ferritin and full blood count. Full blood count was done with Mindray Bc-2800 and Ferritin test with Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay. Authorization was granted by Cameroonian national Ethical Committee. Data were analysed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences 21.0 significant results were considered for P< 0.05. ID varied from 4.2% to 9.6% for cut-offs of 30 and 50μg/L. IDA ranged from 4.2 to 8.5% at these 2 cut-offs. Considering red cells indices, Mean Corpuscular Volume and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin blood count currently used should be interpreted cautiously as only Mean Corpuscular Volume and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin corroborate with a Ferritin level lower than 30 μg/L.
Highlights
Iron is an essential element involved in energy metabolism and other biochemical processes, including oxygen transport in blood, oxidative phosphorylation in cellular respiration, erythropoiesis, and DNA synthesis [1]
Male sex and the younger age mostly represented in our study, were consistent with the study of Moschovis et al while studying risk factors among young children in sub-Saharan Africa [10], this may be explained by the accelerated growth velocity during the first year of life, since growth velocity is higher in boys when compared to girls during this period [11]
Ferritin recommended by WHO for iron deficiency (ID) and Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) diagnosis was not used in our health settings
Summary
Iron is an essential element involved in energy metabolism and other biochemical processes, including oxygen transport in blood, oxidative phosphorylation in cellular respiration, erythropoiesis, and DNA synthesis [1]. While studying the effect of iron supplementation in children, Lozoff et al [2] stated that iron deficiency (ID), a major cause of anaemia can result in intellectual reduction and motor function damage. It has been revealed about micronutrients deficiency in developing countries, that every second, about 40% of preschool children are estimated to be anaemic [3]. WHO estimates that IDA resulted in 273 000 deaths: out of which 45 % in southeast Asia, 31% in Africa, 9% in the eastern Mediterranean, 7% in the Americas, 4% in the western pacific and 3% in Europe This means 97% of deaths occurs in low and middle income countries [6]. The loss due to IDA in 10 developing countries was estimated at 4% of gross domestic income [7]
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