[Anemia in Jerusalem children aged 3-6 years].
Anemia in Israel is prevalent in nursing infants but there are few data on its prevalence in children aged 3-6 years. In 436 children in this age group in 18 family practice clinics in the Jerusalem area a hemoglobin level of less than 11.0 g% was found in only 17 (3.9%). Age, sex, and suburban versus urban residence were not related to the incidence of anemia. In 74 children (17%) the average mean red cell volume (MCV) was less than 74 fl but it was not associated with low hemoglobin. This finding might indicate the presence of thalassemia or a predisposition to the development of iron deficiency. This group of children is at risk of developing iron deficiency anemia and therefore requires follow-up. Results of blood tests at ages 9-12 months were available in 198 of the children but the results were not of high predictive value for the development of iron deficiency at 3-6 years of age. Iron supplementation administered to them when nursing did not affect the incidence of anemia in the children studied.
Anour
E
E
Dept. of Family Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem.
Hasin
M
M
Yodfat
Y
Y
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D005260:Female; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence