TY - JOUR AU - Dilip Kumar AU - Aarti. A. Kinikar PY - 2019/12/31 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Clinical Profile of Children with Beta-Thalassemia JF - Asian Journal of Clinical Pediatrics and Neonatology JA - AJCPN VL - 7 IS - 4 SE - Articles DO - 10.21276/ajcpn.2019.7.4.10 UR - http://aijournals.com/index.php/ajcpn/article/view/1325 AB - Background: The pathogenesis of thalassemia is based on in effective  erythropoiesis, haemolysis and a tendency to increase iron absorption, this causes monocytes and macrophages compartment hyperplasia and hyperactivity. These increased phagocytic activities reduce the capacity of phagocytic system to defend against pathogenic microorganisms. Finally, severe anemia  itself is a risk factor for bacterial infections in thalassemia predominantly pneumonia. Subjects and Methods: The present study was conducted in the thalassemia unit and pediatric ward of a tertiary care, referral and teaching hospital situated in an urban area. Informed consent of parents/ caretaker of the enrolled thalassemic children were taken. Result: Among 32 patients, all except one had physical growth retardation. A thalassemic child who had recurrent infections had 11 times higher chance of having physical growth disturbance. (OR= 11.12; p value = 0.0066) compared to those who did not have recurrent infections. 59.37% of the patients who had recurrent infections had wasting and stunting, 15.62% had only wasting and 21.87% had only stunting. Conclusion: This shows that there was male predominance among the patients with infections. Out of 85 cases, 55.29% were males and 44.7% were females. Male: Female ratio was 1.236: 1. ER -