Comparison of once a day and three times a day iron treatment in 9-12 year old elementary school children with iron deficiency anemia

Dedy Gunadi; Nelly Rosdiana; Bidasari Lubis

doi:10.14238/pi49.2.2009.104-7

Dedy Gunadi
Nelly Rosdiana
Bidasari Lubis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14238/pi49.2.2009.104-7

Keywords: anemia, iron deficiency, ferrous sulfate, compliance

Abstract

Background The compliance of iron deficiency anemia treatment
that is administered three times daily in children is low. The
compliance will be better if therapy is administered once daily.
Objective To compare the iron therapy response of once per day
vs. three times a day administration in 9-12 year old children with
iron deficiency anemia.
Methods Children with iron deficiency anemia were randomly
allocated into a ferrous sulfate once-daily group or a ferrous sulfate
three times-daily group with the same dose of 5 mg/kg /day of
elemental iron for 30 days. Iron deficiency anemia was defined
as Hb < 12 g/dL (World Health Organization criteria), MCV
< 70 fl, RDW > 16 %, Mentzer index > 13 and RDW index >
220. Iron treatment response was characterized by the increase in
Hb level 30 days after treatment. Peripheral blood samples were
collected at the start and end of the study.
Results Ninety seven children were enrolled. There were
significant increases in Hb levels in both groups after 30 days of
iron therapy, but there was no significant difference in Hb level
between the two groups (P=0.55).
Conclusion The administration of a once daily dose of ferrous
sulfate did not show a significant difference in the increase ofHb
levels compared to a three times daily dose.

Author Biographies

Dedy Gunadi

Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
North Sumatra, H. Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, Indonesia.

Nelly Rosdiana

Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
North Sumatra, H. Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, Indonesia.

Bidasari Lubis

Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
North Sumatra, H. Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, Indonesia.

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