Abstract

Objective: To compare ferrous sulphate and iron polymaltose complex in terms of mean change in hemoglobin and frequency of complications in treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children.
Methodology: This Randomized control trial was done at department of pediatrics KRL hospital Islamabad from June 2017 to November 2017. Children with IDA, 6-12 years of age with hemoglobin level less than 10mg/dl were enrolled and admitted in ward. Two groups were formed; patients in Group A were administered ferrous sulphate and Group B iron polymaltose complex. Patients in each group were supervised with iron 6mg per kg per day, for a period of one month. Blood samples were taken at the start and end of one month of iron therapy completion to measure hemoglobin levels along with the complications.
Results: The study included 148 cases; 74 in each group. Mean age among group A was 8.93+1.93 and for group B was 8.35+1.88 years. Frequency of male and female sample population was 43.24% and 56.76% in Group-A while and 50% and 50% in Group-B. Mean change in hemoglobin was 1.35+0.80 in Group-A and 0.90+1.00 in Group-B, (p=0.003) showing a significant difference in hemoglobin after one month of therapy. Likewise, mean change for ferritin level before and after one month, was 1.62+0.63 in Group-A and 0.82+1.06 in Group-B (p=0.000).
Conclusion: On comparison of ferrous sulphate and iron polymaltose complex in terms of mean change in hemoglobin and frequency of complications in treatment of IDA in children, ferrous sulphate was found to be significantly convalescent than iron polymaltose complex.

Key words: Iron deficiency anemia, ferrous sulphate, iron polymaltose complex, mean change.