title: Iron deficiency in sickle cell anaemia in Nigerian children.
abstract: The iron status in children with sickle cell anaemia has been studied in 45 patients. The mean haemoglobin level was 7.4 g/dl (s.d. 1.7) and the white cell count more than 11 X 10(9)/l in 35 (78%). Bone marrow examination showed depletion of iron stores of 21 (47%). The total iron binding capacity was elevated in most of the children and serum iron was below the normal mean level for age in 14 (31%) children. The possible causes of iron deficiency in some of these children include dietary deficiency, infections, malabsorption, blood loss through hookworm infestation and growth spurt. In the management of a child with sickle cell disease, iron administration is not recommended unless there is evidence of coexisting iron deficiency.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria
chemical_list: D007501:Iron