Hemoglobin level as a risk factor for lower respiratory tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the role of hemoglobin level, as a risk factor for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in children (LRTI).


METHODS
100 children who came to the outpatient department for LRTI were included in the study. Age and sex-matched 100 children, not having any respiratory illness, were taken as control. They were subjected to complete blood count (CBC),C-reactive protein estimation (CRP), Mantoux test and X-ray chest. Peripheral smear, serum ferritin and serum iron binding capacity were done for all anemic children. Results. Radiological evidence of pneumonia was present in 63 children(63%).Hyper inflated lungs were seen in 27 (27%). Mantoux was positive in 22 children (22%) of study group and none among control group. CRP > 6 mg/L was noted in 45 children (45%) of study group and 14 (14%) of control group. Seventy four of study group (74 %) and 33 of control group (33%) had anemia. Of the anemic children, 60 (60%) had iron deficiency,10 (10%) chronic inflammation and 4 (4%) had hemolytic anemia. These values were 30 (30%), 2 (2%) and 1 (1%)respectively for control group. Low hemoglobin level due to whatever etiology, was a risk factor (p=0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Anemic children were 5.75 times more susceptible to LRTI compared to the control group. Prevention of anemia, due to whatever etiology, will reduce the incidence of LRTI.
Ramakrishnan
K
K
Department of Pediatrics, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, India. ramakrishnank@aims.amrita.edu
Harish
P S
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins