Malarial iron-deficiency anaemia among asymptomatic Nigerian children

Purpose. There is widespread subclinical (asymptomatic) malaria in our locality. The effects exerted by malaria on the body iron status remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of malarial iron‐deficiency anaemia and the effect of asymptomatic malaria on iron status indicators.Design. A cross‐sectional prospective study.Methods. Seven parameters, haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell (WBC) count, malaria parasite, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum ferritin, and percentage transferrin saturation, were evaluated among 240 children of both genders, aged 1–8 years. Estimation of the variables was carried out using standard haematological, colorimetric and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay procedures.Results. Of the 240 children surveyed, 66 (27.5%) were parasitized with Plasmodium falciparum. The overall prevalence of iron‐deficiency anaemia (defined as haemoglobin <11 g dl−1, serum ferritin <12 ng ml−1 and transferrin saturation <16%) i...