Volumen: 20 # Number : 1
Publication Date : Enero - Abril Year: 2016
Anemia, eosinophilia and inflammation
in a child population of Santiago del Estero, Argentina
Authors: Manzur AS, Lazarte S
Abstract: Iron deficiency anemia is the most severe expression
of iron deficiency and causes irreversible damage to
the physical, immune and neurocognitive development
in children. Eosinophilia and inflammation are
common findings in Argentinean children. The purpose
of the study was to assess the prevalence of anemia
and to evaluate whether the presence of eosinophilia
or inflammation had influence on iron levels
in a group of 68 children who attended at Hospital
de Niños Francisco Viano in La Banda, Santiago
del Estero, during October-December 2012. Total
blood count, serum iron, transferrin and transferrin
saturation percentage were performed. C-reactive
protein (CRP) was used to detect inflammation.
Children were divided into two age groups: babies
(0-24 months) and older than 2 years (25 months-12 years). Hemoglobin of 109 g/L for babies and 118
g/L for older were obtained. The prevalence of anemia
was 42,6% (95% CI 30,8-54,4%). Anemia with
normal iron levels and iron deficiency anemia were
detected in 18 and 11 cases, respectively. The first
one coexisted with positive CRP, decreased transferrin
or eosinophilia in 11 cases, which could be
associated with inflammation, poor nutritional status,
and parasitism or allergy, in that order. No significant
relationship between eosinophilia and anemia
or iron deficiency was observed. Positive CRP
showed significant relationship (p <0.05) with decreased
serum iron. These results highlight the need
for further study of nutritional deficiencies in children’s
community in order to generate preventive
actions.
Key words: Anemia,
Iron deficiency,
Eosinophilia,
Inflammation.
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