Iron Deficiency Anemia As Risk Factor For Pneumonia In Children Under 5 Years Age

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between iron deficiency anemia and pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. Background: The condition of pneumonia kills the most young children in developing nations, while iron deficiency anemia potentially raises their risk of catching respiratory infections. The comprehension of this relationship is essential for enhancing health results. Methodology: The research included 170 child participants, 85 of whom suffered from pneumonia, and 85 served as control subjects at Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. The study used non-probability consecutive sampling as its research method. The research team collected data about demographics, clinical features, nutritional status, and laboratory results. The doctors diagnosed anemia through tests of hemoglobin levels and iron studies. The data analysis utilized IBM SPSS version 24, which applied means, frequencies, and Chi-Square tests to evaluate associations and correlations between variables. Results: Anemia affected 74.1% of patients with pneumonia yet only affected 34.1% of patients without pneumonia, which yielded an odds ratio of 5.51 (95% CI: 2.86-10.63, p < 0.001). Iron deficiency anemia was more common in pneumonia patients since it affected 67.1% of cases compared to 21.2% of controls (risk increase 7.63 times, confidence interval 3.82-15.22, and p-value < 0.001). Statistical calculations demonstrated that iron deficiency anemia had a robust association with pneumonia severity by showing significant correlations through multiple demographic characteristics. Conclusion: Analyses prove that anemia from iron deficiency exhibits a clear link with pneumonia development in children who are younger than 5. Healthcare strategies that target children's nutritional deficiencies must remain a priority because they decrease pneumonia incidence and advance better child health results.

Keywords: Iron Deficiency Anemia, Pneumonia, Children, Case-Control Study, Nutritional Status, Public Health.