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Deficiencies in the Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia During Childhood
Author(s) -
Powers Jacquelyn M.,
Daniel Catherine L.,
McCavit Timothy L.,
Buchanan George R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.25861
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , anemia , etiology , iron deficiency anemia , iron deficiency , emergency department , intravenous iron , intensive care medicine , psychiatry
Limited high‐quality evidence supports the management of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). To assess our institutional performance in this area, we retrospectively reviewed IDA treatment practices in 195 consecutive children referred to our center from 2006 to mid‐2010. The majority of children were ≤4 years old (64%) and had nutritional IDA (74%). In 11‐ to 18‐year‐old patients (31%), the primary etiology was menorrhagia (42%). Many were referred directly to the emergency department and/or prescribed iron doses outside the recommended range. Poor medication adherence and being lost‐to‐follow‐up were common. Substantial improvements are required in the management of IDA.