Frequency of Megaloblastic Anemia Among Children with Macrocytic Anemia Attending Gaafer Ibn Auf Hospital

Abstract

This study was a descriptive, cross sectional study. It conducted to determine the frequency of megaloblastic anemia among macrocytic anemia in children referring to Gaafer Ibn Auf pediatric hospital-Khartoum state in the period between March 2015 and June 2015. forty patients (15 males and 25 females) were informed about the study and agreement for participation was obtained. Venous blood of 2.5 ml was collected in EDTA containers and then analyzed for complete blood count by using of sysmex automated hematology analyzer. Blood films were prepared to determine red cells morphology and bone marrow aspirates were performed to confirm the diagnosis . Then the data was analyzed by using SPSS program and the results showed the following: The mean of Hb was 6.9 g/dl,47 %, mean of PCV was 21.5%, mean of MCV was 107.3 fl, mean of MCH was 34.1pg, mean of MCHC was 31.8 %, mean of RBCs was 2.01×106cell/µl, mean of TWBCs was 9.7×103cell/µl and mean of Plts was 274×103cell/µl. Three films and marrow aspirates showed features of megaloblastic anemia. These features were oval macrocytosis with hypersegmented neutrophil in films and megaloblast cell in marrow aspirates. This study revealed that the frequency of megaloblastic anemia among study group was 3 (7.5%) while 37 (92.5%) of them with nonmegaloblastic anemia. According to data mentioned above, the anemia in study group was classified in two groups which were megaloblastic and nonmegaloblastic anemia. In the comparing of MCV, MCH between two groups of anemias in this study, there was significant difference found that P.value (<0.05), but there was no difference found that in comparing the other parameters, P.value (>0.05). In conclusion megaloblastic anemia did not highly frequent among the study population.