HAEMATOGRAM AND SERUM IRON STATUS OF MALNOURISHED NIGERIAN CHILDREN

Haematological parameters, total serum iron, and total iron binding ca pacity (TIBC) concentrations were estimated in twenty protein energy m alnourished (PEM) children, five kwashiorkor (K), five marasmus (M), f ive marasmic-kwashiorkor (M-K), and five undernourished (U) aged betwe en one and five years on admission and after 18 days hospitalisation a t Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, The Hospital d iet for K and M-K consisted of 8% protein and 802 calories per litre w hile that for M and U consisted of 30% protein and 1350 calories per l itre, After the period of 18 days of rehabilitation there was no signi ficant (p>0.05) difference (Student's t-test) in the weight for age. N one of the haematological parameters was significantly different after rehabilitation for all the four types of PEM. Of the four types only Kwashiorkor with mean serum iron values of 15.6 +/- 1.51 micrograms/10 0ml and 21.17 +/- 0.33 micrograms/ 100ml on admission and after rehabi litation respectively was significantly (P<0.05) different, More atten tion by the OAUTHC authorities needs to be paid to the management, fee ding and diet given to these children so that there will be a greater and more rapid improvement in their rehabilitation.