IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH THROMBOCYTOPAENIA IN PAEDIATRICS: TWO CASE STUDIES

Abstract

Iron‌ ‌deficiency‌ ‌anaemia‌ (IDA) ‌is the commonest cause of anaemia in children.  Worldwide, almost 50% of children under 5 years are anaemic, and the incidence in this group is actually increasing^2-4.  It is more common in Asian communities, and in infants and toddlers is predominantly a nutritional disorder (usually insufficient red meat or excessive cow’s milk consumption, high intake of fruit juice) and only rarely due to malabsorption or bleeding, however coeliac disease should always be considered and screened for. Iron deficiency anaemia is common and is usually associated with a normal or high platelet count. However, severe iron deficiency anaemia can rarely be associated with thrombocytopenia¹. We present two cases of children with iron deficiency anaemia associated with thrombocytopenia presenting to general paediatrics. One patient had a severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia, complicated by epistaxis, and required red cell transfusion and specialist investigations, whereas the other improved with iron replacement alone.