FREQUENCY OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PERSISTENT DIARRHOEA, LOW WEIGHT AND PARASITIC INFESTATION IN CHILDREN VISITING TEHSIL HEADQUARTER HOSPITAL DASKA.

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health problem in Pakistan among younger children. Persistent diarrhea, one of the major causes of malnutrition in children especially under two years of age contributed to IDA resulting in increased mortality and morbidity in developing countries. The incidence and mortality is especially high during infancy in the absences of breast feeding. Number of factors effect prevalence of IDA in this age group, important ones, are low socio-economic status, low weight, worm infestation and persistent diarrhea

To find out the frequency of IDA among children 1-2 years of age visiting Out-Patient Department of Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Daska, Sialkot by determining the level of total body iron stores by assessment of the Haemoglobin, Serum Ferritin and Total Iron Binding Capacity in the blood; to determine the parasitic infestation by assessment of ova and cyst in the stool samples; and to find out the association of Iron Deficiency Anemia with persistent diarrhea, low weight and parasitic infestation.