title: Anaemia, iron deficiency and susceptibility to infection in children in sub-Saharan Africa, guideline dilemmas.
abstract: Globally, anaemia, iron deficiency and infections are responsible for a majority of the morbidity and mortality that occurs among children. As iron is essential for erythropoiesis and the human immune system, as well as a crucial element for many pathogens, these three conditions often interact. This article considers the question - have the studies conducted so far unravelled the potential complex interaction between these factors sufficiently enough to be able to develop universally applicable guidelines about iron treatment in children? It is possible, however, that the area is too complex and diverse, with many sub-populations, and that not universal, but tailor-made guidelines are needed based on some agreed principles.
authors.affiliation: Global Child Health Group, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Femkje A M
authors.initials: FAM
authors.lastname: Jonker
authors.affiliation: Global Child Health Group, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Te Poel
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Imelda
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0862-8199
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: Global Child Health Group, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boele van Hensbroek
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: anaemia; children; infections; iron deficiency; iron supplementation