Abstract
Background: Pica is persistent ingestion of non-nutritive substances for at least one month mostly after
the age of 2 years. Pica is common presentation of iron deficiency anaemia. This study aimed to assess
children for iron deficiency anaemia presenting with history of pica by serum ferritin estimation.
Methods: This study was done over one year in Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Children of
either sex above two years presenting with history of pica were included. Patient history of pica
substance and nutrition along with milk intake, age, sex, weight, height, was documented on proforma.
Data was analysed on SPSS-20 and results were taken significant with p<0.05. Results: A total of 120
patients, 59 (49.2%) males and 61 (50.8%) females, were recruited. Their age range was 2–10 years;
weight ranged 6.8–40 Kg with mean weight 12.55±3.43 Kg. Height ranged from 70.5 to 154 Cm with
mean height 90.5±10.48 Cm. Haemoglobin ranged from 5.3 to 11.9 gm/dl with mean Hb 8.81±1.21
gm/dl. Mean serum ferritin level was 7.3±4.28 ηg/ml. Substances eaten were soil, sand and lime
accounting for 72.5%. Twenty percent children were breast fed. There was significant relationship
between weight and height with pica (p<0.001). Conclusion: Pica is one of the common presentations
of iron deficiency anaemia and most of the parents ignore this as if this is not manifestation of disease,
rather consider it to be habit of child. Any child presenting with pica history should be evaluated for
iron deficiency anaemia.
Shahzad Najeeb, Syed Sajid Hussain Shah, Bibi Aalia, Shabana Sarwar, Asfandyar, Ejaz Hussain. (2020) ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH HISTORY OF PICA FOR IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA BY SERUM FERRITIN ESTIMATION, Pakistan Journal of Physiology, Volume 16, Issue 2.
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