Estimation of risk factors and management of severe anemia in children aged 6 months to 12 years at tertiary care center -a prospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction:The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that globally anaemia affects1.62 billion people (24.8% of the population). Anaemia is a global problem especially so in the developing countries. In India, 82% of the children under 2 years and 70% of children under five are anaemic.As the prevalence rates vary among various age groups, so are the risk factors appear to vary according to the age group.Early recognition and treatment of anaemia is of crucial importance as the anaemia in children is associated with poor developmental outcome.Its aetiology in developing countries is multifactorial thus, the most important risk factors need to be identified for prevention strategy. Methodology:The present study was a Prospective hospital based descriptive study conducted during the period from August 2019 to August 2020 in the Department of Pediatrics, Osmania medical college, Niloufer hospital. Results: Severe anemia was more common in the age group of 6 months to 2years(39.6%), compared to other age groups.Female children(51.4%) were more common compared to male children(48.5%).Fever was the most common symptom(76.2%) Pallor was observed in all children. Hepatomegaly (27.7%) was the next most common sign followed by splenomegaly and oedema in 8.9% cases. The most common clinical condition associated with severe anaemia was viral fever(22.9%). Majority of children(80.1%) were diagnosed with Iron deficiency anemia, and Thalessemia major(2.9%), sickle cell disease (1.98%), and anemia of chronic disease(1.93%) were the other contributing causes Conclusion :Children aged below two years and an underweight child were significantly associated as a risk factor for severe anemia (P value of < 0.0001)