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[Is general screening for anemia and iron deficiency justified in nursing infants?]
M A Muñoz Pérez1, C García Vera, F Galve Royo
1Centro de Salud Teruel.
Insights
Routine anemia and iron deficiency screening in breastfed children is not necessary. Selective screening for iron deficiency in at-risk infants is recommended, focusing on those with visible signs of anemia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Anemia and iron deficiency are common concerns in infants.
- Breastfeeding practices and iron supplementation strategies vary.
- Screening protocols aim to identify and manage these deficiencies early.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the necessity of universal anemia and iron deficiency screening in breastfed children.
- To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in this population.
- To inform targeted screening and prophylaxis strategies.
Main Methods:
- A crossover study design utilizing data from case records.
- Inclusion of 93 urban children aged 18-24 months enrolled in a Healthy Breast-feeder Programme.
- Venous blood analysis for hematocrit, hemoglobin, and iron status markers (serum ferritin, transferrin saturation).
Main Results:
- A low prevalence of anemia with iron deficiency (1.1%) and latent iron deficiency (3.4%) was observed.
- No statistically significant differences in hematological values were found based on milk type, feeding duration, or iron prophylaxis.
- Overall iron deficiency detected in 5.4% of the study population.
Conclusions:
- Universal screening for anemia and iron deficiency in breastfed children may not be warranted.
- Selective iron prophylaxis is suggested for identified high-risk groups.
- Laboratory investigations should be reserved for infants presenting with clear signs of anemia or iron deficiency.
Objective:
To establish the necessity of anemia and iron deficiency screening in breast-feeders in our environment.
Design:
A crossover study, after data collection from case records.
Setting And Patients:
93 children of 18 and 24 months living in a urban area. All of them are included in the Healthy Breast-feeder Programme of the Health Center of Teruel city.
Interventions:
Detection in venous blood of hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, transferrin saturation and ferritin in serum.
Measurements And Main Results:
We founded a 1.1% of anemia with iron deficiency and a 3.4% of latent iron deficiency. We detected a total of 5.4% cases of iron deficiency. We didn't find any statistical significance when comparing the haematic values among children who had received different kinds of milk nor in relation with the time in which they got it. We didn't find either any differences when comparing such values among those who had received iron prophylaxis and those in which this treatment was not considered necessary.
Conclusions:
Therefore we suggest selective iron prophylaxis for risk groups and laboratory studies only in those with evident signs of anemia or iron deficiency.
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