[Treatment of iron deficiency in preschool children with a weekly dose of ferrous sulfate].
BACKGROUND
Iron deficiency is the most frequent haematological disease during the paediatric age and is a health public problem; the iron deficiency has a special interest during early development of human beings; in recent years the group of research recommend intermittent treatment, with ferrous sulphate every week because is more easily adhesion to treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To know iron concentration in plasma after treatment, given oral ferrous sulphate daily and single dose every week.


METHODS
We established two groups A and B, with ten iron deficiency pre-school children each one.


RESULTS
Group A: the children received oral ferrous sulphate twice a day during three months; the doses were 3.5 mg of ferric iron per kilogram of weight in children with ages less of three years old, and 2.5 mg/kg/day in children with three to five years old. After the treatment all the patients improved haemoglobin, ferritin an iron concentrations (p = 0.001). Group B: The patient received the some dose per kilogram of weight like that of group A, in a single dose weekly for three months, there was an improvement in haemoglobin not reaching normal levels, half of the patients improved iron and ferritin observing statistical significance; haemoglobin (p = 0.001) iron (p = 0.062) and ferritin (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of ferrous sulphate daily provide an positive balance of iron status for the group A. Group B: that they received iron weekly dose showed changes to positive balance of iron status with a statistical significance, it is probably that the half doses of ferrous sulphate also improve the anaemia by iron deficiency.
Sotelo-Cruz
Norberto
N
Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora, Ave. Reforma No. 355 entre Calles 8 y 11, Colonia Ley 57, Código Postal 83100, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Gómez-Rivera
Norberto
N
Ferrá-Fragoso
Sergio
S
Pereyda-Galaz
Dolores Eloisa
DE
D000367:Age Factors; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron