IRON DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN: DETECTION AND PREVENTION

Despite a plethora of papers, reports and consensus statements during the last 25 years concerning the high prevalence and complications of iron deficiency (ID), the problem is still with us. A recent national study in Britain showed that 12% of 2-year-olds were anaemic, rising to 29% in Asian immigrant groups (Lawson et al, 1998). What can be done about it? This paper reviews detection and prevention of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) referring mainly to studies published in the last 5 years. Earlier substantial reviews of iron nutrition are available (Brock et al, 1994; British Nutrition Foundation, 1995; Hallberg & Asp, 1996). Reviews specifically related to children include those by Oski (1993) and Wharton (1999a). Detection is divided into indications for…