A Study on Iron Deficiency Anemia of Pre-School Children in Rural Area in Korea

한국농촌(韓國農材) 미취학아동(未就學兒童)의 철결핍성빈혈(鐵缺乏性貧血)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) -충청남도(忠淸南道) 대덕군(大德郡) 유성면(儒城面) 상대리(上垈里)를 중심(中心)으로-

This study is to investigate the status of anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia among pre-school children in rural area in Korea. The survey was conducted in Sang-dae Ri, Yusong Myon, Daedok Gun, Chung Chong Nam-Do from July 30 th to August 12th, 1968. The measurements were done of height, weight, hematologist and biochemical levels on ninety-two pre-school children, 47 male, and 45 female, one to six years of age. Hemoglobin was determined by the method of cyanmethemoglobin and hematocrit by micro hematocrit centrifuge. The determination of serum iron, iron-binding capacity was done by the method of Ramsay using bathophenanthroline and the serum albumin was determined by Biuret Reaction. The results of this study are as follows: 1) 54.4 percent of the pre-school children weighed less than 90 percent of the Korean General Standard Weight level. 2) The average hemoglobin level was $11.0{\pm}1.57gm/100ml$, 38.0 percent of the children were anemic with less than 1.0gm/100ml. Of the anemic children 60 percent were below the Korean General Standard Weight level. 3) 27.5 percent of the pre-school children were found to have below 32 percent of a hematocrit values and 28.0 percent showed less than 33 percent in M.C.H.C. These results showed that the incidence of hypochromic anemia in these pre-school children was high. 4) 37.9 percent of these children had a serum iron level less than $50{\mu}g/100ml\;and\;31.0\;percent\;had\;a\;TIBC\;above\;400{\mu}g$ while 48.3 percent showed a transferrin saturation lower than 15 percent. On the basis of these findings, it is concluded than the cause of this anemia was iron deficiency. 5) In this group there was a little evidence of low total serum protein levels. However, 10.4 percent of the children had a deficient serum albumin level, below 2.80 gm/100ml while 51.7 percent had a low level, less than 3.50gm/100ml, and 34.5 percent of the children had a low level of TIBC, less than $350{\mu}g/100ml$, and considering these facts, it is suggested that some of the anemias have a multiple causes through protein deficiency and repeated chronic infection apart from iron deficiency.