Iron deficiency anaemia in infants

To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in infants presenting to their general practitioner in a socially deprived, ethnically mixed suburb.

A total of 43 infants between 6 and 36 months of age were tested for iron deficiency anaemia. The blood tests were collected opportunistically over a 10 month period. Infants with other than trivial illness were excluded. Parents of infants with evidence of iron deficiency were offered dietary counselling, and infants with iron deficiency anaemia were treated with oral iron therapy. Follow up blood tests for iron deficient infants were performed after approximately three months of treatment with oral iron therapy.

42% (18) of infants tested were Pacific Island, 35% (15) were Maori, 16% (7) were European and 7% (3) belonged to other ethnic groups. 23.2% (10) of those tested had iron deficiency anaemia (haemoglobin less than 110 g/L and mean cell volume less than 70 fL). Six of the 10 were followed up and all six found to have improved haematological indices following oral iron therapy.

Given the known adverse effects of iron deficiency anaemia in infancy primary health care providers in socially disadvantaged areas should consider screening all infants for iron deficiency anaemia.