Analysis of Erythrocyte Indices of Children in Internally Displaced People Camp of Yola, Northeast Nigeria

Background/Objectives: Erythrocyte indices constitute important parameters useful in clinical care of children. Analysis of erythrocyte indices for children in IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps in Adamawa State like in most states in Nigeria was not fully studied. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the erythrocyte indices of children in Fufore IDP camp in Yola. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 297 children (137 females and 160 males) in the camp with age range of 12 to 61 months old and 201 apparently healthy school children as control group. 3ml of blood were collected from children and transferred into K3-EDTA vacutainer tubes. Full blood count was determined within four hours of blood collection using the Sysmex XP300 hematological analyzer. Results: Mean erythrocyte count of subjects and control was 3.1 ± 0.7 X109/l and 4.3 ± 0.7 X109/l respectively at P<0.05 and red cell distribution width (RDW) of subjects was 16.9% while that of control was 13.5%. Hemoglobin level of subject and control was 9.7 ± 1.1 g/dl and 12.4 ± 1.3 g/dl respectively. The mean Pack Cell Volume (PCV) of subjects was 32.7 ± 0.3% while the PCV of control group was 37.0 ± 0.2%. The Mean Cell Volume (MCV) of subject and control group was 74.8 ± 0.6 fl and 81 ± 0.5 fl respectively while Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH) of the control and subject group was 26.9 ± 0.9 pg and 27 ± 0.4 pg respectively at P<0.05. Conclusion: Children in IDP camp had lower RBC count, PCV, MCV, Hemoglobin values and higher RDW value than the control group at P<0.05. Hence microcytic and iron deficiency anemia was observed among children in Fufore IDP camp in Yola.