Assessment of the prevalence of iron deficiency in children and adolescents in the city of Ulan-Ude

Iron deficiency in children is one of common conditions. Objective: to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency in children and adolescents in the city of Ulan-Ude. Methods: in a transverse (simultaneous) uncontrolled study, the serum iron content in the blood serum was studied in children and adolescents in the city of Ulan-Ude from May 22 to May 24, 2020. A decrease in serum iron was detected in every third teenager, more pronounced in girls, and increasing age, from 38,4% at the age of 10-11 years old to 87,9% at the age of 15-17 years. When assessing the diet of children and adolescents, an unbalanced diet was revealed, insufficient consumption of meat, liver, fish and poultry, vegetables and fruits, sour-milk products compared to the recommendations of optimal nutrition, 82,5% of children drink a significant amount of tea, which impedes the intake of insufficient amount of iron.6,6% do not consume meat. Conclusion: there is a high prevalence of iron deficiency, accounting for 46,6% of the examined in children and adolescents living in the city of Ulan-Ude. The results of the study dictate the need of organization measures to both correct nutrition and mandatory intake of iron preparations by girls entering fertile age, as well as explanatory work among pediatricians to diagnose iron deficiency conditions in children and adolescents, and pediatricians among parents of children and teenagers.