Abstract

SWART, P D R; RAUTENBACH, K  and  RAUBENHEIMER, J E. Reticulocyte haemoglobin content as a diagnostic tool for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia in ill infants and children. S. Afr. j. child health [online]. 2014, vol.8, n.1, pp.23-27. ISSN 1999-7671.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) in ill children is complicated by the unreliability of serum ferritin (S-ferritin). The presence of a microcytic, hypochromic anaemia suggests IDA but is not specific. There is a need for a diagnostic test that will be accessible, cost-effective and accurate for the diagnosis of ID in ill children. Studies done in healthy children have reported that reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) is a reliable diagnostic test for ID, eliminating the need for S-ferritin determination. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of CHr to diagnose ID and IDA in ill infants and children. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive study was conducted. One hundred children, aged 6 months to 6 years, who were admitted to Pelonomi Regional Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa, during July 2012 and August 2012 were included. RESULTS: The study group was divided into an iron-deficient group and an iron-sufficient group based on transferrin saturation (TfS). A statistically significant difference was found between mean corpuscular haemoglobin, serum transferrin and CHr in these two groups (p=0.0001). The sensitivity of a CHr level <29 pg to detect ID was 86%, and the specificity was 50%. CONCLUSION: CHr is an accurate diagnostic test for ID, and for IDA in combination with a low haemoglobin level, in ill infants and children.

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