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The effects of acute infection on hematological parameters

Tansu Sipahi1, Tülin Köksal, Betul Tavil

  • 1Pediatric Hematology Department, Fatih University, Ankara, Turkey. tansusipahi@hotmail.com

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
|November 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Acute infections in children can temporarily decrease hemoglobin (Hb) levels. However, other blood count parameters and iron status markers typically normalize within 15 days post-infection.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Hematology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Acute infections are common in children.
  • Understanding their impact on hematological parameters is crucial for clinical management.
  • Acute phase reactants and iron metabolism markers may be affected during infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of acute infections on total blood count in children.
  • To examine the relationship between these effects and acute phase reactants.
  • To assess the recovery of blood count parameters after infection resolution.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 113 children (6 months–12 years) with acute infections.
  • A control group of 43 healthy children.
  • Analysis of total blood count, iron status (SI, SIBC, TS), and transferrin receptor values on days 1, 3, and 15.

Main Results:

  • A decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) was observed in 55.7% of patients by day 3.
  • No significant differences in Htc, RBC, MCV, MCHC, or RDW between study and control groups.
  • Serum iron (SI), serum iron-binding capacity (SIBC), and transferrin saturation (TS) were low initially but normalized by day 15.

Conclusions:

  • Acute infections can cause transient decreases in hemoglobin in children.
  • Most other total blood count parameters remain unaffected.
  • Iron metabolism markers show temporary alterations but recover post-infection.

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