Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

24.5K

Effects of Nutritional Status on Academic Achievement Among Children With Thalassemia

Panchalee Poovichayasumlit1, Wilaiporn Chanpreecha2, Chanchai Traivaree1

  • 1Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine and Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|March 16, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Malnutrition is prevalent in children with thalassemia, significantly impacting their academic performance. Addressing nutritional status and socioeconomic factors is crucial for improving outcomes in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition Science
  • Medical Research

Background:

  • Children with thalassemia face risks of malnutrition and cognitive impairment.
  • Chronic illness in thalassemia impacts overall child development.
  • Understanding nutritional impacts is vital for managing pediatric thalassemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of nutritional status on academic performance in children with thalassemia.
  • To assess the prevalence of malnutrition in pediatric thalassemia patients.
  • To identify factors associated with malnutrition in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 47 pediatric thalassemia patients (ages 7-18).
  • Evaluation of growth parameters, laboratory data, academic performance (GPA), and nutritional intake.
  • Nutritional status assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) classifications.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of malnutrition (55.3%) in children with thalassemia.
  • Malnourished children showed significantly lower height-for-age (p<0.001) and GPA (p=0.002).
  • Malnutrition and lower parental income were significantly associated with poorer academic performance.

Conclusions:

  • Malnutrition is common and negatively affects academic achievement in children with thalassemia.
  • Financial support and regular nutritional assessments are recommended for affected children and families.
  • Interventions targeting nutritional status can improve academic outcomes in pediatric thalassemia.
Abstract

Keywords:
academic achievementchildrenmalnutritionthalassemia

More Related Videos

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

5.2K
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management05:35

Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management

Published on: January 19, 2024

1.6K

Related Concept Videos

Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
1.1K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.7K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.3K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
312
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
641
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism01:19

Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
4.2K