RESUMO
The most commonly performed blood test is complete blood cell count. This test includes hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count, and detailed red blood cell indices. Automated complete blood count also give information for "differential" which gives information about percentages and absolute numbers of different subgroups of white blood cells. This test is necessary in diagnosing anemia, hematological cancers, infections, acute hemorrhagic states, allergies, and immunodeficiencies. Also it is used for monitoring side effects of certain drugs. A pediatrician is frequently challenged for evaluating complete blood count as a part patient's assessment. An enhanced and complete understanding of this laboratory test is essential for providing quality care of sick and normal children. Here in this paper, we want to share key laboratory interpretation strategies for complete blood count and some clues for differentiating normal from deviations and true problems.
RESUMO
RESUMEN: La caries temprana de la infancia severa (CTI-S) es una enfermedad crónica que afecta a niños menores de 6 años, produce dolor, infección y destrucción de los tejidos dentales. El dolor que experimentan los niños con CTI-S puede llevar a hábitos alimenticios alterados que pueden causar deficiencias nutricionales. El objetivo fue evaluar los valores de hemograma en niños con CTI-S y compararlos con los valores normales de referencia para la edad. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo observacional. Se analizaron las fichas y hemogramas de 47 niños con CTI-S, clasificados como ASA 1, atendidos bajo anestesia general en el Hospital de la Fuerza Aérea de Chile. Se tomaron en cuenta los valores del hemograma en relación a: Hematocrito, Hemoglobina y VCM. Se realizaron test descriptivos para las variables en estudio y se utilizó el testt para comparar los valores de hemograma con los valores normales de referencia. Se encontró una disminución de los valores de hematocrito en 4 pacientes (8,5 %) y una disminución del valor de VCM en 17 pacientes (36,7 %). Se encontraron diferencias significativas al comparar los promedios obtenidos en relación a hematocrito, VCM y hemoglobina en niños con CTI-S con el promedio de referencia (p <0,001). De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, podemos concluir que los niños con caries temprana de la infancia severa, tienen alteraciones en los valores promedio de hemograma en relación a hematocrito, hemoglobina y VCM.
ABSTRACT: Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is a multifactorial chronic disease that affects children under 6 years of age, produces pain, infection and destruction of the dental tissues. The pain experienced by children with SECC may lead to altered eating habits that may cause nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemogram values in children with severe early childhood caries, and compare them with age population reference values. An observational retrospective study was carried out. We analyzed the medical records and their respective hemograms of 47 children with S-ECC, classified as ASA1, attended at the Chilean Air Force Hospital under general anesthesia. The hemogram values were taken into account in relation to: hematocrit, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Descriptive tests were carried out for the variables under study and the t-test was used to compare the hemogram values with the normal reference values. A decrease in hematocrit values was found in 4 patients (8.5 %) and a decrease in the value of MCV in 17 patients (36.7 %). Significant differences were found when comparing the averages obtained in relation to hematocrit, hemoglobin and MCV in children with S-ECC with the reference average (p <0.001). According to the results obtained, in this study, we can conclude that children with severe early childhood caries, have alterations in the average of hemogram values in relation to hematocrit, hemoglobin and MCV.
