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Serum Iron Profile and Red Cell Indices in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition in A Tertiary Level Hospital
N Islam1, N A Siddique, M A Hossain
1Dr Nureza Islam, Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Mymensingh Medical College (MMC), Mymensingh, Bangladesh;
Insights
Children with severe acute malnutrition exhibit significantly lower serum iron and red cell indices. Routine testing for iron deficiency anemia is crucial for early intervention and management in these vulnerable children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a critical health issue in children, often associated with micronutrient deficiencies.
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common comorbidity in malnourished populations, impacting growth and development.
- Understanding the specific hematological alterations in SAM is vital for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the serum iron profile and red cell indices in children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
- To compare these hematological parameters between children with SAM and healthy, age-matched controls.
- To establish the prevalence of anemia and its characteristics in children with SAM.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving 70 children with SAM and 70 healthy controls (aged 6-59 months).
- Serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation were measured.
- Complete blood count (CBC) parameters including hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children with SAM showed significantly lower mean levels of serum iron, serum ferritin, TIBC, and transferrin saturation compared to controls (p<0.05).
- Mean Hb level was significantly lower in the SAM group (8.3±1.6 gm/dl) versus the control group (p<0.05).
- Anemia was present in all (100%) children with SAM, compared to 25.7% in the control group. Red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) were also significantly lower in children with SAM (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Children with severe acute malnutrition demonstrate marked abnormalities in iron status and red cell indices, indicative of significant iron deficiency.
- The high prevalence of anemia in this cohort underscores the urgent need for comprehensive nutritional assessment and management.
- Routine screening of serum iron profile and red cell indices is recommended for early detection and management of iron deficiency anemia in children with SAM to improve outcomes.
Abstract:
This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the department of Paediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh, Bangladesh from March 2017 to August 2018 to assess the pattern of serum iron profile and red cell indices in children with severe acute malnutrition. Seventy children having severe acute malnutrition were compared with 70 age matched children those had normal growth. Age range of the studied children was 6 months to 59 completed months. Male was found predominant (54.3%) in both study group and comparison group. Mean serum iron, serum ferritin, serum total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation in severely malnourished children were 45.3±19.3μg/dl, 26.5±20.0ng/ml, 246.3±47.5μg/dl and 16.4±2.0% respectively which were significantly lower than that of healthy children (p<0.05). Mean Hb level in children with severe acute malnutrition was found 8.3±1.6gm/dl which was also found significantly lower than that of normal children (p<0.05). Anaemia was found in all (100%) severely malnourished children compared to 25.7% of children in comparison group. Mean MCV, MCH and MCHC in children with severe acute malnutrition was found 71.7±13.5fl, 24.0±5.8pg and 31.4±4.0gm/dl respectively which were significantly lower than that of comparison group (p<0.05). Serum iron profile and red cell indices should be routinely done in severely malnourished children for early intervention and management of iron deficiency anaemia.
