Evaluation of Nutritional Anemia as a Risk Factor in Childhood Allergic Diseases

INTRODUCTION: This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of allergic diseases in children with nutritional anemia (iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies) using clinical assessment tools including ISAAC questionnaires, skin prick testing, and laboratory markers.
METHODS: Between July 2013 and February 2014, a total of 123 children aged 3–18 years (77 anemic, 46 controls) were prospectively evaluated at Zeynep Kamil Women and Children’s Health Training and Research Hospital. ISAAC questionnaires were applied to determine the frequency of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Complete blood count, ferritin, serum iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 levels, total IgE, and eosinophil ratios were analyzed, and skin prick testing was performed.
RESULTS: Allergic disease was detected in 24.7% of the patient group and in 30.4% of the control group. No significant difference was found between the groups in the rates of physician-diagnosed asthma (1.3% vs 4.3%), allergic rhinitis (22.1% vs 26.1%) and atopic dermatitis (1.3% vs 0) (p>0.05). The frequency of atopy was 15.8% in the patient group and 14.2% in the control group. There was also no difference in total IgE and eosinophil values.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Nutritional anemias (IDA, B12, folate deficiency) were not found to increase the frequency of allergic diseases in children. In line with current literature, it was concluded that this relationship may be bidirectional (allergic disease → anemia or anemia → atopic severity), and that larger, prospective studies are needed.

Keywords: iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12, folic acid, atopy, allergic diseases, nutritional anemia, skin prick test, ISAAC