Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children with febrile fits.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of IDA with febrile fits in children. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatrics, Kyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Period: September 1^st, 2021 to March 1^st 2022. Methods: A total of 149 children of both gender presenting with febrile fits were included in the study whereas, subjects with the history of electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemia, meningitis, encephalitis, shigellosis, neurological deficiencies and seizures were excluded from the study. 5cc BD syringe was used by duty staff to drawn blood sample to access Hb, MCV level and serum ferritin levels. Hospital reports were analyzed and discussed with pathologist to access for IDA. Results: The average age of study participants was 2.590 ±1.12 years and range from 6 months to 5 years with male and female ratio is 76.5 % and 23.5% respectively. Mean duration of symptoms was 13.76±4.52 hours and 60.4% was the study participants were having IDA. Conclusion: The study highlights, 60.4% of study participants with febrile fits were have IDA, stressing on the need for early screening and intervention to treat this condition. Targeted nutritional strategies and further study are crucial to understanding the causal relationship and improving health outcome in children.