Some haematological investigations on infants from Kingston, Jamaica - abstract

ABSTRACT

A longitudinal study of health and growth of 270 Kingston infants was carried out from birth to 1-year of age. The infants were all born at University Hospital and were from predominantly lower socio-economic backgrounds. Haemoglobin levels were estimated 7 times during the year, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration 3 times, and serum iron levels and haemoglobin electro-phoresis once when the infants were 10 months old. The stool of approximately 50 percent of the infants was examined for parasites at 10 months of age. The incidence of abnormal haemoglobins was 39 (14.4 percent). 4 infants had haemoglobin SS and their health and progress is reported. Data for children with haemoglobin AS appeared to be similar to that for children with haemoglobin AA. The 33 infants with birth weights below 2.5 kgm had lower mean levels for haemoglobin, serum iron and percentage saturation of transferrin than infants with birth weigh over 2.5 kgm. The following results refer to 220 singleton infants with birth weights over 2.5 kgm. and with Hb AA or AS. The mean Hg levels from 3 months of age were lower than normal values reported from developed countries. The incidence of Hb level below 10 gms. per 100 ml. varied from 20 to 50 percent between 3 and 12 months of age. Mean values for serum irons, the percentage saturation of transferrin and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were all lower than normal and were all significantly correlated with Hb levels at 10 months of age. Several factors were examined for an association with Hb level. Hb changed with age with a steep fall from birth to 3 months of age and a slight dip at 8 months of age. Males had lower Hb levels than females. Infants with birth weights between 2.5 and 3 kgm. had lower Hb levels at 3 months of age. The prevalence of parasites was 11 percent, comprising 8 percent Giardia lamblia, 2 percent Ascaris lumbricoides and 1 percent Trichuris trichiura. No hookworm was found. Possible explanations for the high incidence of anaemia are discussed (AU)