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Pediatrics Education and Research

Volume  3, Issue 4, October - December 2015, Pages 121-150
 

Original Article

Study of Anemia below 15 Years of Age

Sonal Mirani*, TusharJagzape**

*Resident, **Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital Sawangi, Wardha.

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DOI: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21088/per.2321.1644.3415.1

Abstract

 Aims and Objectives: To study the etiology and clinico-haematological co-relation of anemia in Pediatric age group. Methodology: Cross Sectional analyticalstudy done on children between 6 months to 15 years admitted in Pediatric ward whose hemoglobin levels were below the WHO cut off for age from 1st August 2013 TO 31st July 2015. Results: We studied 557 anemic children admitted in pediatric ward aged 6 months to 15 years. Out of 557 subject 332 were males and 225 females. Maximum number of children (52.5%) were present in the preschool age group followed by school going (31.4%) and adolescent (16.3%). Amongst preschool (63.2%) and school going (60.6%) children, male were more in number whereas females were more in adolescents (53.8%). Easy fatigability (26%), irritability (25%), Lack of concentration (17.6%) and breathlessness (16%) were the few common clinical symptoms. Children with moderate anemia were more symptomatic.Palmar pallor (81.5%), Icterus (13.2%), knuckle pigmentation (12.2%) were few common clinical signs observed. Clinical signs were more common in patients with moderate anemia. Nutritional anemia (59.6%) and hemolytic anemias and haemoglobinopathies (32.7%) wwere the commonest etiological types and Iron deficiency anemia (88.5%) was the commones cause of nutritional anemia. Out of 557 children 56.2% were moderately anemic followed by 25.8% who were severly anemic. Palmar pallor was found to be 81.5% sensitive and conjunctival pallor was 89.9% sensitive. Palmar pallor was most sensitive for severe anemia (98.6%) followed by moderate (80.2%) anemia. Conclusion: Nutritional anemia was the commonest etiological type of anemia, with Iron deficiency being the most frequently observed sub type, followed by hemoglobinopathies and hemoatological anemia, which was mainly constituted by sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. Clinical features like easy fatigability, irritability, lack of concentration, breathlessness, headache and palpitations were frequently observed in children with moderate anemia, where as children with mild anemia were relatively symptom free. Palmar pallor was found to be 81.5% sensitive and conjunctival pallor was 89.9% sensitive, sensitivity was in more in severe forms of anemia hence we conclude that palmar pallor and conjunctival pallor can be used as a simple diagnostic tool for moderate and severe form of anemias, and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with anemia.  


Corresponding Author : Sonal Mirani*