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Thrombocytopenia in severe iron deficiency anaemia: A report of two cases
Faisal Mohammad1, M Sridhar2, Madhusudan Samprathi2
1Fellow, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Rainbow Children's Hospital, Bangalore, India.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia is a common global health issue in children. Severe thrombocytopenia (low platelets) is rare but can be effectively treated with iron supplementation alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent global health concern affecting nearly 50% of children under five.
- While typically associated with normal or elevated platelet counts, severe thrombocytopenia is an uncommon presentation of iron deficiency anemia.
Observation:
- This study details two pediatric cases presenting with iron deficiency anemia and severe thrombocytopenia.
- Both children exhibited a rare clinical manifestation of this common condition.
Findings:
- Both patients experienced a full recovery of their platelet counts following iron supplementation.
- This suggests iron supplementation can be a sole effective treatment for severe thrombocytopenia in this context.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering iron deficiency as a potential cause of severe thrombocytopenia in children.
- Suggests a simple and effective therapeutic approach for this rare presentation of iron deficiency anemia.
- Underscores the need for further research into the hematological effects of iron deficiency in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Iron deficiency, the commonest cause of anaemia in children, is a global public health problem. Worldwide, almost 50% of children <5 years of age are anaemic. Platelet count in iron deficiency anaemia is mostly normal or high; thrombocytopenia is rare. We describe two children with iron deficiency anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia who recovered with iron supplementation alone.
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