STUDY OF ANAEMIA IN HOSPITALIZED PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: A 3 YEAR STUDY AT TERTIARY CARE CENTRE, GWALIOR

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Anemia is a serious global public health problem that particularly affects young children, menstruating adolescent girls and women, and pregnant and postpartum women. Several factors contribute to the occurrence of anemia and nearly half of (43%) the anemia cases in childhood are due to iron deficiency. Anemia during childhood adversely affects mental, physical and social development of the children in short- and long-term outcome.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of pathology, G.R. Medical College and Jayarogya group of hospital, Gwalior M.P. Anemia was diagnosed in chidren under 16 years of age by estimating the haemoglobin concentration in the blood with the use of an auto-analyzer. WHO Haemoglobin levels reference was used to classify the anemia accordingly.
RESULT: This study comprised 853 cases, out of which 455 (53.3%) cases were male and 398 (46.6%) cases were females. Most common age group affected was 6months-5 years of age group with maximum 348 (40.7%) cases. Most common morphological type was microcytic hypochromic anaemia.