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, hematologial and biochemical levels on´ ninty-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 per cent of the pre-school children weighed less than 90 per cent of the Korean General Standard Weight level.
2) The average hemoglobin level was 11.01. 57gm/100ml, 38.0 per cent of the children were anemic with less than 1.0 gm/100 ml. Of the anemic children 60 per cent were below the Korean General Standard Weight level.
3) 27.5 per cent of the pre-school children were found to have below 32 per cent of a hematocrit values and 28.0 per cent showed less than 33 per cent in M. C. H. C.
These results showed that the incidence of hypochromic anemia in these pre-school children was high.
4) 37.9 per cent of these children had a serum iron level less than 50 Pg/100 ml and 31.0 per cent had a TIBC above 400,ug/100m1 while 48.3 per cent showed a transferrin saturation lower than 15 per cent. 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 per cent of the children had a deficient serum albumin level, below 2. 80 gm/100 ml while 51.7 per cent had a low level, less than 3.50 gm/100 ml, and 34. 5 per cent of the children had a low level of TIBC, less than 350,ug,1100 ml, 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.
Dept. of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Department of Home Economics, Graduate School, Seoul National University 149
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