Study of etiological patterns and various clinical presentations of anemia in children aged 6 months to 5 years admitted in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Nutritional anemia (NA) is the commonest cause of anemia in children. Iron deficiency is the most important contributing factor to nutritional anemia. Severe iron deficiency is associated with impaired brain development along with cognitive, behavioural, and psychomotor manifestations, particularly during the first two years. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and etiological profile of anemia in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Material and methods: Hospital-based observational study conducted on children between 6 months to 5 years of age, admitted to Government General Hospital, Srikakulam and having anemia according to WHO classification. Results: Of the 157 children diagnosed with anemia over 18 months period, iron deficiency anemia is the commonest cause of anemia, seen in 107 children followed by sickle cell anemia seen in 21 children. Out of the sampled children, 154 children recovered, and 3 children succumbed to death. Conclusion: Nutritional anemia, particularly iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in 6 months to 5 years-old children. Co-morbidities like malnutrition, parasitic infestations, diarrheal diseases, and recurrent respiratory tract infections form a vicious cycle and result in nutritional anemia. Identifying the factors that are leading to iron deficiency anemia and implementing the control measures like early iron supplementation results in reducing morbidity and mortality.