The Lack of Association of Iron Deficiency With Anemia in First Graders

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a disease with worldwide prevalence. The prevalence of IDA and iron deficiency (ID) was ascertained by serum ferritin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels in first graders in Taibe. A total of 1132 first graders were tested for the iron status between the years 1999 and 2004. Serum ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, MCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red and white blood cell counts were checked. Hb<11.5 g/dL, serum ferritin<12 μg/L, and MCV<75 fL were the criteria we chose for establishing IDA, and serum ferritin<12 μg/L and MCV<75 fL for establishing ID. Non-IDA was ascertained by a low Hb value, coupled with normal serum ferritin. The mean value of serum ferritin was 26.6±16.8 μg/L. Eighty-two (11.8%) children had low serum ferritin (<12 μg/L). The mean value of Hb was 12.3±0.8, and 80 (11.5%) of the children had low Hb. A correlation was found between hematological parameters and Hb. The prevalence of IDA, ID, and non-IDA was 2.2%, 11.8%, and 9.4%, respectively. No correlation was found between indices of anemia and demographic characteristics. Non-IDA and ID are prevalent in 5 to 6-year-old Arab children; however, IDA is surprisingly low. We need to look for other causes of anemia in this age group of the population.