Iron deficiency in young Bradford children from different ethnic groups.
Haematological parameters and iron state were studied in children admitted to hospital consecutively during a six month period. A total of 147 of 598 children (24.6%) were anaemic, with haemoglobin values below the third centile of the reference range, and 131 of 400 children (32.8%) were iron deficient, with serum ferritin concentrations less than 10 micrograms/l. Both findings were more common in children from the Asian ethnic minority. The "routine" full blood count is a useful tool for the presumptive identification of iron deficiency in childhood. Iron deficiency is deleterious to the health of young children. In view of its extent and degree--not exclusively among the Asian ethnic minority--a community based preventive programme on the lines of the Stop Rickets Campaign is recommended.
Ehrhardt
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D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins