Iron status of anaemic children: Relation to clinical diagnosis

Abstract

The association of anaemia with iron deficiency or infection was studied in 29 anaemic children drawn from the paediatric outpatient clinic of Adeoyo General Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Initial screening for anaemia was based on haematocrit level (Hct<30%) of blood obtained from a finger prick. Haemoglobin (Hb), total iron binding capacity of serum (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin (SF), measurements were used to classify the anaemia. Low TS, Low SF and elevated TIBC were associated with low Hb in iron deficiency anaemia. In fact, significant correlations existed between Hb and Hct, Hb and TS, Hb and log SF, log SF and TS, and between TS and TIBC in iron deficiency anaemia. However, in anaemia of infection, only Hct correlated with Hb. Iron deficiency accounted for the anaemia in 48.3% (42.9%) of whom presented with clinical evidence of haemolvsis), infection/inflammation in 41.4% and haemolytic disorder in 10.3% of the cases. The occurrence of low TS (<16%) and low Hb despite significantly elevated SF in anaemia of infection suggested the existence of a block in the release of iron for Hb synthesis. Both depressed TIBC and elevated SF in association with low Hb values differentiated iron deficiency anaemia from other types of anaemia.