Iron and vitamin D3 levels in infants admitted with chest infection: A hospital-based study

Abstract

Background and objective: Acute lower respiratory tract infection is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in children under five years of age, with many etiologies suggested to be among its predisposing risk factors. Research has suggested that iron and vitamin D deficiencies may contribute to the vulnerability of acute respiratory infection among young children. This study aimed to assess the correlation between iron and vitamin D3 levels with acute lower respiratory tract infection. Methods: The present study is a hospital-based case-control study conducted over a period of six months at Rapareen Teaching Hospital for Pediatrics in Erbil, Iraq. A total of 100 infants, 50 cases with and 50 controls without chest infection, aged four months to one year, attending the outpatient department, participated in the study. Results: A statistically significant correlation was detected between vitamin D level and acute lower respiratory tract infection (P = 0.029). Combined iron and vitamin D deficiency in cases compared to the control group was statistically significant (P = 0.004). Iron level alone and presence of anemia between cases and control were statistically not significant (P = 0.197 and P = 0.216, respectively). Conclusion: The study shows a significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency with increased susceptibility to acute lower respiratory tract infection. It was also found that combined deficiencies of Hb with vitamin D and iron with vitamin D significantly correlated with susceptibility to acute lower respiratory tract infection. It is concluded that treating these deficiencies may decrease the liability of this type of infection in infants.

Keywords

• iron
• vitamin d3
• chest infection