IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Abstract

t r o d u c t i o n : The adherence to treatment of iron deficiency anemia often is poor in both developed and developingcountries. The current standard therapy is oral ferrous sulfate administered 3 times daily. It is possible that adherence would improve witha single-dose daily treatment regimen. O b j e c t i v e s : To compare single versus thrice daily ferrous sulfate for treatment of iron deficiencyanemia in young children. D e s i g n : Quasi experimental study Setting: Children Department Military Hospital Rawalpindi. P e r i o d : From (01Jan- to31 Mar 05 and 03 Jul to 02 Oct 05) Subjects and Methods: Total 250 patients of iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin values: 7.0to 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 dailyat 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 theend of the study. R e s u l t s : Successful treatment of anemia (target hemoglobin > 10 gm/dl) occurred in 81.42 % of the single dose and in79.83 % of thrice daily dose groups and the side effects were minimal between the two groups. Conclusion: A single versus a 3 times dailydose of ferrous sulfate resulted in a similar rate of successful treatment of iron deficiency anemia, without significant side effects.