The problem of iron deficiency anemia in preschool Negro children

[The reference values of the hemoglobin content, the hematocrit and the mean concentration of corpuscular hemoglobin of calves reared without iron substitution. 1. Dependence on the rearing period]

A total of 1.088 blood samples (1 to 6 per animal) were taken from 491 rearing calves in the colostral period, the milk feeding period and the weaning period (at the age of 4, 22, 51, 79, 105, 122 and 145 days); the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) resp. the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined resp. calculated. Hb, Hc and MCHC were drawn in diagrams in dependence on the rearing period as arithmetic means with standard deviations, as quartiles and as frequency distributions on an interval scale. During the rearing periods with milk feeding the anaemic frequency was considerable. Anaemia resp. hypochromia frequency had an inverse relation to the developing increase of concentrated feed and roughage consumption and thus makes it probable that the cause of anaemia is the intake and/or absorption of iron insufficient for the weight gain performance achieved. The consumption of solid feed by the hematologically examined calves developed more quickly than in other GDR rearing farms due to the early ad libitum supply with this feed component and the composition of fluid feed with milk. Reference is made that the frequency of hypoferric anaemia can also be considerable during the milk feeding period in the intensive rearing of lambs and kids if an effective iron intervention is not made.

[Anemia of male rearing calves. 2. Duration of anemia]

From 203 male rearing calves in a longitudinal study during the first rearing period in a rearing farm the time could be determined in which the hemoglobin quota, the hematocrit resp. the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were lower than 10,5 g/dl, 33% resp. 30.5 g Hb/dl erythrocytes. The average duration of anaemia was 45, 29.5 resp. 44 days of the total of 56 keeping days in this rearing range (80.4%, 52.7% resp. 78.6% of the keeping period). During this rearing period 89.2%, 71.4% resp. 90.6% of all animals were anaemic for a shorter or longer time. With 29.8%, 26.2% resp. 29.9% of the anaemic calves the anaemic phase exceeded 56 days.

Hematocrit levels and race: an argument against the adoption of separate standards in screening for anemia

The average hematocrit levels of black children have been widely reported to be about two to three percent lower than those of white children. Until recently, the relative contributions of economic, nutritional, and genetic factors to these differences have been unspecified. Based on new evidence and reanalysis of past data, however, some investigators now argue that genetic differences exist which transcend economic status. Separate screening standards are thus recommended for black children-standards which would define fewer as anemic. The present paper discusses methodological inadequacies in the evidence supporting the separate standards argument, focusing on the skewed economic distributions by race which suggest economic disparities within the racial subgroups compared. Findings are presented from a study of children in Washington, DC, to illustrate the role of particular risk factors known to be differentially distributed by income (eg, multiparity, birthweight, source of medical care). These factors are associated with varying hematocrit levels, even among blacks, and they also appear to account for a large part of the black-white hematocrit differentials. Study findings cast doubt on conclusions about the genetic basis of hematocrit differences and suggest that, without better evidence, it would be inappropriate to adopt lower standards for blacks in screening for anemia.

Haemoglobin levels in Cardiff children of nursery school age

A study of 1074 apparently healthy children aged 2 to 5 years revealed a wide range of haemoglobin, extending from 6·8 g/100 ml to 15·6 g/100 ml. The mean Hb was 12·3 g/100 ml, with only minor variations for age, sex, and season. A significant increase in the Hb followed iron administration if the initial Hb was less than 10·5 g/100 ml, but there was no rise in the mean value if the initial level exceeded 12·5 g/100 ml. Taking 10·5 g/100 ml as the level below which anaemia is deemed to exist, 5·2% of the total study population were anaemic, compared with 0·3% in private nurseries, 3·7% in local authority nurseries, and 15% of infants on admission into the care of residential nurseries.

Hemoglobin levels and iron intakes of infants attending selected child health centres in the city of Toronto

An investigation of the hemoglobin levels of infants in potentially high-risk categories demonstrated the possibilities of a public health program of screening and referral for anemia. Blood samples for hemoglobin determinations and particulars of 24-hour dietary intakes were obtained for 252 infants between the ages of 6 and 18 months at seven child health centres in the City of Toronto. Twenty-nine percent of the infants had hemoglobin levels below 10 g./100 ml. of blood. Problems in the collection and analysis of dietary data limited the interpretation of iron intakes.