Frequency of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Male School - Children in Karari Locality (Khartoum State)

Abstract

This is a descriptive, and cross – sectional study conducted to detect Iron Deficiency Anemia in male primary school children in Karari locality, Khartoum state in the period between November 2008 to May 2009. One hundred samples were collected from male students from different schools of Karari locality, Khartoum state with varying age between 6 to 18 years. The students were classified into three groups according to age. Group one with age varying between 6 to 10 years, group two between 10 to 14 years, and group three, between 14 to 18 years . 2.5 ml of blood was collected from each student into EDTA test tube, and then analyzed for CBC using sysmex automated blood analyzer. Other 2.5 ml of blood was collected into plain tubes which without anticoagulant serum was separated using centrifuge, and then analyzed for serum iron, and serum ferritin using A 25 Bio system analyzer. Blood films were prepared and examined for red cells morphology. The results showed the following. Group one the mean of hemoglobin was 12.0 g/dl, mean of PCV was 36.6%, mean of RBCs count was 4.8 X 1012/L, mean of MCV was 78.4 fl, mean of MCH was 25.8pg, mean of MCHC was 33.1%, mean of serum iron was 39.7μg/dl and mean of serum ferritin was 137.3 μg/l. Group two mean of hemoglobin was 12.7 g/dl, mean of PCV was 38.9 % , mean of RBCs count was 4.7 × 1012/L , mean of MCV was 82.7 f/l, mean of MCH was 26.6 pg mean of MCHC was 32.3% , mean of serum iron was 56.1 μg/dl , and mean of serum ferritin was 129.5 μg/l. Group three mean of hemoglobin was 12.3 g/dl, mean of PCV was 36.8 %, mean of RBCs count was 4.4 × 1012/L, mean of MCV was 80.6 fl , mean of MCH was 27.6pg, mean of MCHC was 33.6 %, mean of serum iron was 59.7 μg/dl, and mean of serum ferritin was 105.1 μg/l. This study concluded that IDA was not common among the students of primary schools in Karri locality.