Childhood Anemia and Risk for Acute Respiratory Infection, Gastroenteritis, and Urinary Tract Infection: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Abstract Objective Children younger than 5 years, particularly children below 2 years, are among the most vulnerable groups for developing anemia and infections. This review is intended to assess the association between anemia and childhood acute respiratory infections (ARTIs), acute gastroenteritis (AGE), and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods PubMed was searched for published articles from January 2000 to August 2021 in English using the following terms: anemia and acute respiratory tract infections in children; anemia and UTIs in children; anemia and AGE in children. The data extraction were conducted by two investigators using the same methodology. Using descriptive statistics, the data from different sources were synthesized, including medians and ranges. Results A total of 426 articles and 27 original articles and 1 systematic review were included. Iron deficiency anemia is common among children between 6 months and 3 years of age. This age group can be considered a highly susceptible age for contraction of ARTI and AGE. Children below 5 years suffer five to six episodes of acute ARTI per year on average, and pneumonia accounts for the highest number of deaths, which is around 1.1 million each year. When considered, the odds ratio of anemia to increase the susceptibility of contracting lower ARTI would range from 2 to 5.7. Also, anemic children were 10 times more susceptible to developing acute recurrent ARTI and 4 times more susceptible to contracting pneumonia.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Patient-Centered Pharmaceutical Design to Improve Acceptability of Medicines: Similarities and Differences in Paediatric and Geriatric Populations
- Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020
- Phase 2b Study of Pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Oseltamivir for Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Seasonal Influenza A: TOPAZ Trial
- Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease: Implications for the Gastroenterologist
- Persistent gut barrier damage and commensal bacterial influx following eradication of Giardia infection in mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.