Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lung airways resulting in episodic airflow obstruction. iron deficiency anemia is very common public health problem in developing countries with incidence ranges from 35-90 % in developing countries and may be a risk factor for asthma in children.
Objective: We investigated iron deficiency anemia, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin in children with bronchial asthma to study possible association of both conditions and possible role of iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiency in development of bronchial asthma and its exacerbation.
Design: Case-control study.
Methods: complete blood count with peripheral smear was done; C-reactive protein was determined by enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay "high sensitive C-reactive protein". erythrocyte sedimentation rate done by Win Trobe method. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity was measured by spectrophotometer. Serum ferritin was measured by enzyme linked immune assay.
Statistical analysis: Results of 40 asthmatic cases were analyzed and compared with 16 healthy controls using SPSS 20.
Results: iron deficiency anemia was significantly more frequent in asthma cases compared to healthy controls. Serum iron and serum ferritin were significantly lower in asthmatic cases compared to controls .Non anemic asthmatics showed significant lower hemoglobin , serum ferritin compared with non-anemic healthy controls . Moderate cases of asthma showed significant lower hemoglobin , red cell counts , serum ferritin compared with mild cases , They did not show significant difference with severe cases in these parameters .All three groups" mild , moderate and severe" showed significant differences in these parameters.
Conclusion: We conclude that iron deficiency anemia is more prevalent in asthmatic children compared to healthy controls. Asthmatic children have risk of iron deficiency even when they are not anemic. red cell counts and iron deficiency increases with severity of asthmatic attacks.