JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE Volume 92 May 1 999 Iron deficiency in childhood

Iron deficiency is the commonest form of malnutrition worldwide, affecting 43 % of the world's children, and is particularly common in Asia and Africa. In the UK, childhood iron deficiency anaemia has long been identified as an important issue in public health. The 1995 National Diet and Nutrition Survey indicated that 12 % of children between 1 l and 2 1 years had a haemoglobin of less than 110 g/L; and in inner city areas with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation and large numbers of children from ethnic minority groups, the prevalence of childhood anaemia was much higher. CAUSES OF IRON DEFICIENCY A major aetiological factor in iron deficiency is early introduction of cow's milk, which is very low in iron content (0.6mg/L). From the age of about 4 months