title: Prevalence of anemia among urban school children of Punjab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of anemia among urban school children of Punjab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban schools of Ludhiana, Punjab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two thousand school children of 5-15 years age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant history was taken and a complete physical examination done in all the children. Hemoglobin was estimated using cynmethemoglobin method and peripheral blood smears were also examined. Anemia was diagnosed when hemoglobin was less than 11 g/dl for children of 5-6 years age and 12 g/dl for more than 6 years age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall prevalence of anemia was 51.5%. Girls had a significantly higher prevalence of anemia except at 5 years and 10-12 years age. More menarcheal girls were anemic as compared to non-menarcheal ones. The prevalence of anemia was high (38%) even in higher socioeconomic groups. Nearly half (47.6%) of well nourished children were anemic. The mean Hb also was lower than expected normal values in both nutritional groups. Compared to non-vegetarians (38%), more vegetarians (65.9%) were anemic. The commonest blood picture seen was microcytic hypochromic (55.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed a high prevalence of anemia among healthy urban school children of higher socio-economic classes. Vegetarians and girls, especially after menarche were more at risk to develop anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chhatwal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000453:epidemiology; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008572:Menarche / Q000097:blood; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins