Sahel Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2011  |  Volume : 14  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 174--178

The relation of hemoglobin level and lower respiratory tract infection in children


Mohammad Rwalah 
 Department of Pediatrics, Prince AH Hospital (PAH), Royal Medical Services (RMS), AL-Karak, Jordan

Correspondence Address:
Mohammad Rwalah
Department of Pediatrics, Prince AH Hospital Royal Medical Services, AL-Karak
Jordan

Background: Iron deficiency is a common public health problem in developing countries. Objective: To study the relation between hemoglobin level and Lower respiratory tract infections in children. Methods: A total of eighty patients who came to the outpatient department with lower respiratory tract infection were included in the study. Age and sex-matched eighty children, not having any respiratory illness, were taken as control. Complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and X-ray chest were performed for all patients. Peripheral blood smear, serum ferritin and serum iron binding capacity were done for all anemic children. Results: The age group of the children included in the study varied from seven months to fourteen years. CRP was positive in 36 children (45%) in the study group and 10 (12.5%) of the control group. Radiological evidence of pneumonia was present in 57(71.3%), and hyperinflation of lung fields in 19 (23.75%) among study group. Fifty nine (74%) of the study group and 24 (30%) of control were anemic Fifty two cases (65%) in the study group had a history of wheeze. Forty four (55%) gave a positive family history of asthma and atopy. Conclusion: Anemic children were more susceptible to lower respiratory tract infection compared to the control group with relative risk 2.46. Treatment of anemia will reduce the incidence of lower respiratory tract infection


How to cite this article:
Rwalah M. The relation of hemoglobin level and lower respiratory tract infection in children .Sahel Med J 2011;14:174-178


How to cite this URL:
Rwalah M. The relation of hemoglobin level and lower respiratory tract infection in children . Sahel Med J [serial online] 2011 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];14:174-178
Available from: https://www.smjonline.org/article.asp?issn=1118-8561;year=2011;volume=14;issue=4;spage=174;epage=178;aulast=Rwalah;type=0