[Treatment of iron deficiency in preschool children with a weekly dose of ferrous sulfate]

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the most frequent haematological disease during the paediatric age and is a health public problem; the iron deficiency has a special interest during early development of human beings; in recent years the group of research recommend intermittent treatment, with ferrous sulphate every week because is more easily adhesion to treatment.

Objective: To know iron concentration in plasma after treatment, given oral ferrous sulphate daily and single dose every week.

Methods and material: We established two groups A and B, with ten iron deficiency pre-school children each one.

Results: Group A: the children received oral ferrous sulphate twice a day during three months; the doses were 3.5 mg of ferric iron per kilogram of weight in children with ages less of three years old, and 2.5 mg/kg/day in children with three to five years old. After the treatment all the patients improved haemoglobin, ferritin an iron concentrations (p = 0.001). Group B: The patient received the some dose per kilogram of weight like that of group A, in a single dose weekly for three months, there was an improvement in haemoglobin not reaching normal levels, half of the patients improved iron and ferritin observing statistical significance; haemoglobin (p = 0.001) iron (p = 0.062) and ferritin (p = 0.01).

Conclusion: The administration of ferrous sulphate daily provide an positive balance of iron status for the group A. Group B: that they received iron weekly dose showed changes to positive balance of iron status with a statistical significance, it is probably that the half doses of ferrous sulphate also improve the anaemia by iron deficiency.