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THE SOCIODEMOGRAPHICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH SIDEROPENIC ANEMIA IN THE KOSOVO
11University of Prishtina, Faculty of Medicine, Kosovo; 2University Clinical Center of Kosova, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Hemato-Oncology, Kosovo.
Insights
Sideropenic anemia in Kosovar preschoolers is linked to maternal anemia history and lower iron levels. No significant gender differences were found in hematological parameters.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Public Health
Background:
- Anemia is a global health issue, yet research on school-age children is limited.
- Sideropenic anemia, a common type, significantly impacts child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the socio-demographic and morphometric features of Kosovar preschool children diagnosed with sideropenic anemia.
- To compare hematological and anthropometric parameters between anemic and non-anemic children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 244 preschool children with sideropenic anemia and 99 non-anemic controls (age 1-72 months).
- Data collected included maternal anemia history, birth weight, anthropometric measurements, and standard hematological parameters (RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, Iron, ferritin).
Main Results:
- Children with sideropenic anemia showed a higher prevalence of maternal anemia history and significantly lower RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, and Iron levels.
- Hypotrophic children with sideropenic anemia had lower birth weight but reduced prevalence of underweight and premature birth.
- No statistically significant gender-based differences were observed in RBC count, MCV, HCT, Le, platelet, reticulocytes, or serum ferritin.
Conclusions:
- Maternal anemia history is a notable factor in nearly half of preschool children with sideropenic anemia.
- Hematological and morphometric parameters in children with sideropenic anemia do not differ significantly between genders.
Abstract:
Although anemia remains a widespread public health problem in most developing and developed countries, there are very few studies on the prevalence and severity of anemia among school-age children. In this research we examined the socio-demographic and morphometric characteristics of Kosovar preschool children with sideropenic anemia. The prospective study was carried out at the Department of Hemato-Oncology, Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo. The study included 244 children with sideropenic anemia and 99 non-anemic controls, ranging in age from one to 72 months. Children with sideropenic anemia had a higher prevalence of positive history of mothers with anemia, had a lower RBC, HGB, HTC, MCV and Iron values compared to children without anemia (p<0.05). Children with sideropenic anemia who had hypotrophic body structure had a lighter body weight at birth, also a lower prevalence of underweight and premature birth (p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between males and females of children with sideropenic anemia on RBC count, MCV, HCT, Le, platelet, reticulocytes, and serum ferritin (p>0.05). In conclusion, we can say that almost half of the children with sideropenic anemia had their mothers with a positive history of anemia. However, there are no differences in gender base on morphologic and hematological parameters among children with sideropenic anemia.
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