Resumen

CORONEL CARBAJAL, Carlos. Ferropenia: Un problema ignorado. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2001, vol.73, n.1, pp.22-27. ISSN 0034-7531.

Iron deficiency is the most disseminated nutritional deficiency in the world and it has serious implications for health. A descriptive study was conducted in a sample of 160 patients with serum iron levels under 10 mmol/L, at "Armando Enrique Cardoso" General Teaching Hospital from January to December, 1999. The objectives of the investigation were to identify the age group affected by this deficiency state, as well as its main causes, clinical manifestations and the relationship of such state with haemoglobin and the nutrional status. The main results were as follows: 59.4 % were affected in the group aged 0-1, the most frequent cause was the ingestion of cow milk in 43.1 % of the cases and the lack of appetite was the manifestation observed in most of the patients. It was concluded that iron deficiency is a common problem that some times is ignored and that some indications as the early supplementation with low doses of exogenous iron should be followed for its prevention.

Palabras clave : IRON DEFICIENCY [diagnosis]; IRON DEFICIENCY [prevention & control]; NUTRITIONAL STATUS; CHILD.

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