Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children
Abstract Background Anaemia is one of the world’s most prevalent child health problems. Its control in Africa and other developing nations has been hindered by uncertainty regarding its cause. Anaemia control has been particularly problematic in regions where the non-iron deficiency causes of anaemi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2472-5 |
| _version_ | 1819126347224580096 |
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| author | Thando P. Gwetu Meera K. Chhagan Myra Taylor Shuaib Kauchali Murray Craib |
| author_facet | Thando P. Gwetu Meera K. Chhagan Myra Taylor Shuaib Kauchali Murray Craib |
| author_sort | Thando P. Gwetu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Anaemia is one of the world’s most prevalent child health problems. Its control in Africa and other developing nations has been hindered by uncertainty regarding its cause. Anaemia control has been particularly problematic in regions where the non-iron deficiency causes of anaemia, are projected to be substantial. The implementation of effective interventions to reduce the anaemia prevalence, requires improved documentation on iron status and other causes of anaemia for target populations. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled n = 184 children, aged 6–8 years from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Tests of haemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and C-reactive protein were performed. These conventional measures of iron status were used to calculate body iron and to categorize the children into different groups of anaemia profiles. Results Anaemia prevalence was high, 43/184 (23.4%). Iron deficiency anaemia contributed 7/43 (16.3%) to the anaemia prevalence compared to non-iron deficiency anaemia 34/43 (79.1%) and mixed anaemia 2/43 (4.7%). In total 47/184 (25.5%) of the sampled children had either iron deficiency or anaemia. Information about the presence of inflammation was used to adjust serum ferritin concentrations, resulting in improved diagnosis of iron deficiency. Conclusion Appropriate investigations for iron status and inflammation/infection screening, need to be integral in the evaluation of anaemia and its causes before anaemia control interventions are implemented. Interventions that target the multifactorial nature of anaemia in school-aged children need to be strengthened. Additionally, regular screening of anaemia in school-aged children from disadvantaged communities is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:54:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e97f98e45cb4726a56ea3c7562d8b96 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:54:35Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e97f98e45cb4726a56ea3c7562d8b962022-12-21T18:33:24ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002017-04-011011910.1186/s13104-017-2472-5Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in childrenThando P. Gwetu0Meera K. Chhagan1Myra Taylor2Shuaib Kauchali3Murray Craib4Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-NatalDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-NatalDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-NatalDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of KwaZulu-NatalDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-NatalAbstract Background Anaemia is one of the world’s most prevalent child health problems. Its control in Africa and other developing nations has been hindered by uncertainty regarding its cause. Anaemia control has been particularly problematic in regions where the non-iron deficiency causes of anaemia, are projected to be substantial. The implementation of effective interventions to reduce the anaemia prevalence, requires improved documentation on iron status and other causes of anaemia for target populations. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled n = 184 children, aged 6–8 years from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Tests of haemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and C-reactive protein were performed. These conventional measures of iron status were used to calculate body iron and to categorize the children into different groups of anaemia profiles. Results Anaemia prevalence was high, 43/184 (23.4%). Iron deficiency anaemia contributed 7/43 (16.3%) to the anaemia prevalence compared to non-iron deficiency anaemia 34/43 (79.1%) and mixed anaemia 2/43 (4.7%). In total 47/184 (25.5%) of the sampled children had either iron deficiency or anaemia. Information about the presence of inflammation was used to adjust serum ferritin concentrations, resulting in improved diagnosis of iron deficiency. Conclusion Appropriate investigations for iron status and inflammation/infection screening, need to be integral in the evaluation of anaemia and its causes before anaemia control interventions are implemented. Interventions that target the multifactorial nature of anaemia in school-aged children need to be strengthened. Additionally, regular screening of anaemia in school-aged children from disadvantaged communities is recommended.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2472-5AnaemiaIron deficiencyInflammationFerritinSerum transferrin receptorBody iron |
| spellingShingle | Thando P. Gwetu Meera K. Chhagan Myra Taylor Shuaib Kauchali Murray Craib Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children BMC Research Notes Anaemia Iron deficiency Inflammation Ferritin Serum transferrin receptor Body iron |
| title | Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children |
| title_full | Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children |
| title_fullStr | Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children |
| title_short | Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children |
| title_sort | anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children |
| topic | Anaemia Iron deficiency Inflammation Ferritin Serum transferrin receptor Body iron |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2472-5 |
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