@article{article_1281996, title={INFANTILE IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA: RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF ANEMIA IN 9-24 MONTH-OLD CHILDREN}, journal={Aurum Journal of Health Sciences}, volume={7}, pages={31–36}, year={2025}, author={Suman, Murat and Suman, Kamuran and Gök, Ebru and Büyük, Musa}, keywords={Demir eksikliği anemisi, demir profilaksisi, demir eksikliği tedavisi}, abstract={ABSTRACT
Objective: Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia from the first 4 months to 2 years of life. In our country, iron supplementation has been provided free of charge by the Ministry of Health to children from 4 months of age. However, iron deficiency still remains a public health problem. This study aims to reveal the frequency of iron deficiency in children receiving iron support between 9-24 months of age.
Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted by analyzing the data of a total of 107 children, including 59 boys and 48 girls. In addition to anthropometric measurements of the children under follow-up, screening tests such as complete blood count and ferritin levels required for the diagnosis of anemia were also included in the study. Patients with anemia in the 9th month were given iron at a treatment dose, and those without anemia were started on prophylactic dose medication. At the 24th month, the patients under follow-up were re-evaluated to control the development of iron deficiency anemia. Additionally, the demographic characteristics of the parents were also included in the study.
Results: At the controls performed after the first 4 months, the frequency of anemia due to iron deficiency was recorded as 42.6% in patients who had been given prophylaxis. At the control performed when the patients reached 2 years of age and iron intake was stopped after the first year, the frequency of anemia was 31%. Half of the patients who were found to be anemic at the age of 2 were also found to be anemic in the controls performed six months ago.
Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutrition deficiency disease in childhood and can negatively affect the physical and mental development of children in the long term. Therefore, childhood iron deficiency anemia control programs should be implemented by health authorities, and parents should participate in these programs and ensure that their children receive regular check-ups and, if necessary, receive iron support. In addition, increasing the amount of iron in milk formulas or complementary foods instead of breast milk is an important factor in preventing iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, it is also crucial for parents to provide their children with a healthy and balanced diet. To prevent iron deficiency anemia, which continues to be a public health problem, awareness should be raised about nutrition deficiency and iron deficiency anemia through joint efforts of all stakeholders.}, number={1}, publisher={Altınbaş Üniversitesi}