Prevalence of Short Stature in Pediatric ?–Thalassemia Major Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Center

Mohit Upadhye; Dr. Asha P. T.; Dr. Aarti Kinikar

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

Prevalence of Short Stature in Pediatric ?–Thalassemia Major Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Center

Mohit Upadhye, Dr. Asha P. T. , Dr. Aarti Kinikar

Abstract :

Background:Growth failure is an important complication of β–Thalassemia major in pediatric patients.Aims and objectives: To estimate the prevalence of short stature in the pediatric patients of β–thalassemia major.Materialsand methods:122 β–thalassemia major patients between 1 to 12 years of age, receiving regular blood transfusions with or without iron chelation therapy were enrolled in thisrecord based study. The data was analyzed using WHO growth standards. Results: 34.43% of the patientswere ofshort stature.59.52%of the short stature patients were underweight.The maximum number of short stature patients was seen in the age group of 11 to 12 years.Conclusion: The prevalence of short stature in β–thalassemia major is 34.43%.Patients in the age group of 11 to 12 years seem to be most affected. Malnutrition is more prevalent in short stature than in normalstature thalassemia patients.