Parenteral iron therapy in children with iron deficiency anemia

---

Roganovic Jelena

University of Rijeka, Croatia

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

---

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) continues to represent a major public health problem, particularly in infants and young children. It is estimated that 40% to 50% of children below five years of age in developing countries are iron deficient. A common etiology of IDA is poor dietary iron intake, especially excessive consumption of cow's milk. Other causes of IDA in children are increased iron requirements during the growth period, inadequate absorption or utilization of iron, and blood loss. The treatment consists of iron supplementation along with improved nutrition. In vast majority of iron-deficient anemic children, oral administration of simple ferrous salts provides effective and inexpensive therapy. Parenteral iron preparations are infrequently indicated, mainly for children with malabsorption or poor compliance. Besides, some adverse reactions reported with intravenous iron administration have led to its limited use in children. Hospital records were reviewed on 45 children (≤18 years of age) who received intravenous infusions of iron sucrose and iron gluconate at the Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia, between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. Patients had a good response to parenteral iron therapy, with a median hemoglobin rise of 2.7 g dl-1. There were only three mild adverse reactions. In our experience, parenteral iron is a safe and effective means to treat IDA in children who cannot receive or do not respond to oral iron due to intolerance, poor adherence, or iron malabsorption.

Biography

---

Roganovic Jelena is the Full Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine Rijeka, and the Head of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka. At the national level, she contributed to the improvement of cure rate of children with cancer, and is interacting with regulatory bodies and parent groups. She is a Certified Member of many national and international Pediatric, Hematological and Oncological Societies. She is the author of more than 300 publications, abstracts and proceedings and several book chapters. She serves as a Reviewer and Editorial Board Member for number of journals. She has received several awards, including Patients' Choice Award Winner for 2011 and 2015, City of Rijeka Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to the lives of children with cancer and the humanization of hospital care and University of Rijeka Foundation Award for the contribution in Biomedical and Biotechnical Sciences.