title: Anemia associated with acute infection in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of anemia associated with acute infection in children has not been well delineated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize this type of anemia in children with acute infection, mainly in relation to iron status.
  
  
  METHODS
  These two cross-sectional studies compared the prevalence and severity of anemia between outpatient febrile children and age-matched non-febrile controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In part 1 of the study, children with acute infection (n = 58) had a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels compared with 54 non-febrile controls. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) did not change this association. Moreover, there was no significant difference in MCV, mean cell hemoglobin or red cell distribution width values between the two groups. Regarding part 2, of the 6534 blood counts obtained in community clinics, 229 were defined as "bacterial infection." Chart survey confirmed this diagnosis. White blood cell level was significantly inversely associated with hemoglobin level (r = -0.36, P < 0.0001). Anemia was significantly more prevalent among children with bacterial infection compared to those without: 21.4% vs. 14.1% (P = 0.002). Mean values of iron status parameters were all within normal limits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute illness is associated with anemia. The pathogenesis of this anemia does not appear to be associated with disruption of iron metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. ballin@wolfson.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballin
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Senecky
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Edo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Edo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaeffert
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amsel
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vol
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amit
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boaz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications*