[Hematologic values and iron levels in a rural student population]

To assess the haematological values of a rural population of school children in the province of Cádiz and to estimate the incidence of iron deficiency amongst them.

The study was performed on 250 children of both sexes aged between 5 and 16 years. Informed consent was obtained from their parents in every case. White cell count, red cell count, haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW were assessed with a Coulter S Plus Jr automatic cell counter; serum iron was measured with a Ferrochem II analyser; turbidimetric measure of transferrin was performed with turbitimer, and ferritin was measured by microparticle enzymoimmunoassay. The normality criteria for children given by WHO were used as a reference.

Of the 250 samples, 245 were evaluable, corresponding to 138 boys (56.3%) and 107 girls (43.7%) and the findings were stratified according to age. The mean values attained in each group were similar to those reported in other Mediterranean countries, and their age distribution was parallel in both sexes until age 11, when haemoglobin and haematocrit increase in boys due to the erythropoietic stimulus exerted by androgens. Iron deficiency was found in 35 children (14.2%); of them, 17 (6.9%) had hypo-ferritinaemia, 13 (5.3%) had hyposideraemia and 5 (2%) had a combination of the two. Iron-lack anaemia was present in 2 cases (0.8%).

The group under study is a sample of the normal school-age population of the area. The detection of iron deficiency in children is important due to the influence of this precursor in the physical and intellectual development.