EAP 2019 Congress and MasterCourse

Looking Through a Crystal Ball: Effects of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Cognitive Functions in Children: An Egyptian Sample

author.DisplayName 1 author.DisplayName 2
1Lecturer of Pediatric Diseases, Department of Medical Studies for Childern, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Sham University, Egypt
2Lecturer of Phoniatrics, Department of Medical Studies for Childern, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Sham University, Egypt

Background: Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is the most prevalent hematological disorder in children and it is the most common type of anemia related to malnutrition. It’s a consequence of untreated iron deficiency (ID). IDA prevalence in Egypt is 43% which is a severe public health problem. Many studies found a relation between iron deficiency anemia and poor cognitive functions in children; however no sufficient studies about this issue were done in Egypt.

Objective: Determine the relation between IDA and cognitive functions in children and its consequences.

Methods: Three groups of children with inattention and delayed language development were enrolled in this cross sectional study with age range 3- 6 years. They were selected randomly from pediatric and phoniatric private clinics in Egypt.

Group I: had IDA

Group II: had ID only

Group III: had normal Complete blood count (CBC) and normal iron status.

All groups were subjected to: (1) Full history taking (focusing on nutritional history). (2) CBC by automatic cell counters, that is, Coulter for hemoglobin concentration. (3)Iron status through estimation of serum ferritin level by ELISA and estimation of C reactive protein (CRP) by ELISA too. (4) Assessment of cognitive functions by assessment of Intelligent Quotient (IQ) using Stanford Binet 5th Edition measuring the non- verbal items (NVI) including fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing and working memory. (5) Assessment of language by language test.

Results: Under the umbrella of faulty eating habits; there was a direct correlation between the deterioration of NVI and the deterioration of iron status with their consequences on delaying language development.

Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia in young children is reflected on their non- verbal cognitive functions and their language age (receptive and expressive) necessitating assessment of CBC and iron status in any child with abnormal cognitive function and/ or delayed language development.









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