Background: Anemia is a global health problem in children specially in under five children causing morbidity and mortality. Our aim of this study was to find the prevalence of anemia in different age group  and its  pattern of severity in hospitalized  under five children.

Methods: This was a prospective study from January2015 to December2015 in which all the children having clinical anemia and hemoglobin level less than 11gm/dl were included in the study. Data were analyzed with regard to, age, sex, dietary habits, socioeconomic status and hemoglobin level with complete blood count and peripheral smear examination.

Results: A total of 109 children were analyzed in which female outnumbered male. Anemia was most prevalent (60.55%) in age group between 6-24 months followed by age group between37-60 months (21.10%). Children having vegetarian dietary habits, belonging to low socioeconomic status, and had not taken first 4-6 months breast feeding had high number of cases of anemia. Regarding pattern of severity of anemia maximum number (47.705%) belonged to moderate type of anemia followed by mild(35.77%0 and severe(16.50%).

Conclusion: In our study most vulnerable age group for anemia in children were 6 months to 24 months specially those belonged to low socio economic group, had vegetarian dietary habits and not taken breast feed in first4-6 months of their life. Maximum number of children had moderate anemia. These vulnerable children should be screened earliest  so that short and long term effect of anemia can be  prevented.

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Dr Shivani Singh

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