الفهرس 
IronOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Iron is the main micronutrient required for normal development
and function of all tissues in the body. Iron deficiency is the main
cause of anemia (the most prevalent nutritional deficiency
worldwide).
Absent food with adequate nutritional quality or impaired
absorption of it leads to undernutrition, overweight and obesity, or
leads to having poor vitamin and mineral status.
Infants, children, and women of reproductive age are at highest
risk of developing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.
The incidence of iron deficiency increases at three timepoints:
in the neonatal period, in preschool children, and in adolescents.
Iron deficiency anemia is the final stage of iron deficiency, and
the first one that can recover with iron supplementation. Iron
deficiency without anemia may also be associated with some clinical
signs and symptoms, such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, or
decreased energy. Patients may present with generalized symptoms of
anemia such as fatigue, irritability, headache, vertigo, dyspnea, and
tachycardia. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are presented by
many body systems and functions of the affected child: impaired
psychomotor and/or mental development, effects on immunity and
susceptibility to infection, decreased exercise capacity, weakness, pica
and/or pagophagia.
Iron deficiency is not a final diagnosis; rather, it is indicative of
an underlying etiology that is decreasing iron availability and/or
increasing iron needs, so it is important to detect the underlying
etiology and, if possible, treat it.
Summary
91
The aim of treatment is to replenish iron stores and normalize
hemoglobin concentrations if anemia is present. Many oral iron
products with varying doses and formulations are available. New
generation parenteral iron preparations have revolutionized therapy
for ID. Intravenous preparations comprise an iron core encapsulated in
a carbohydrate shell to delay iron release.
The probability of reversing the adverse effects of iron
deficiency depends on the stage of development at the time of iron
deficiency.
In order to detect the prevalence of iron deficiency with or
without anemia among children in Samanoud district, Gharbia
governorate and discover its impact on growth and development, we
conducted a cross sectional study between January 2021 and January
2022. A total of 200 participants were enrolled in the study, according
to inclusion and exclusion criteria, from children aged 6 months to
less than or equal 11 years, from all types of schools, nurseries and
outpatient clinics, 25 children were excluded and 200 completed the
study.
We took a full history, general examination, anthropometric
measurements and laboratory investigations (Hb, CRP, Serum ferritin)
for all participants. The anthropometric measures were plotted and
results were interpreted according to the recent Egyptian growth Z
score curves. Anemia is diagnosed if hemoglobin below 11 g /dl for
children aged less than 5 years, or below 11.5 g/dl for children aged
5years to 11 years. Iron deficiency without anemia is considered when
serum ferritin level is less than or equal to 12 μg/L for children less
than or equal to 5 years of age and <15 μg/L for more than 5 years of
age. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS software.
Summary
92
The study showed that the occurrence of iron deficiency
anemia is significantly related to age less than 2 years. The prevalence
of iron deficiency anemia was higher in children aged 2 years or less
and there was a highly significant association between iron status and
this age group. There was a highly significant association between
iron status and weight for the age subgroup 6 months to less than or
equal to 5 years and the length/ height for the same age subgroup.
There was no significant association between iron status and the
weight for length in children less than 5 years old nor body mass
index in children more than 5 years.
We highly recommend early screening of iron deficiency using
serum ferritin during the first 2 years of life starting from the age of 6
months to detect and treat iron deficiency as early as possible and
avoid the impact of iron deficiency anemia on growth and
development. Early introduction of foods rich in iron as
complementary feeding after the 4th month of age is important to
decrease the risk of iron deficiency anemia among infants and
children. Healthcare givers should raise awareness about iron
deficiency and its complications.