Anemia ferropénica en niños preescolares en Latinoamérica

Abstract

Introduction: Iron is an indispensable element of hemoglobin, its main function is the transport of oxygen; iron deficiency anemia is a serious health problem that mainly affects preschool children. Objective: To determine the predominance, associated factors, therapeutic approach, complications, and the nursing role in iron deficiency anemia in preschool children in Latin America. Methodology: A narrative literature review was conducted based on 51 articles; articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected by searching for scientific documents found in institutional pages of the health area and databases in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, in addition to Boolean operators and health science descriptors (DeSC) establishing search equations. Results: Iron deficiency anemia in preschool-age in Latin America had a prevalence of 33.35%, also the most relevant risk factors are socioeconomic, socio-demographic, socio-environmental, and pathological level so timely treatment with ferrous sulfate, consumption of heme and non-heme iron is required; in the absence of proper management, long-term complications such as neurological problems that cause hearing difficulty are triggered. Nursing intervention for prevention and monitoring through nutritional counseling as well as consumption of healthy foods is paramount. Conclusions: The importance of timely prevention through the consumption of alternative food with high iron content, such as liver, red meat, and wheat flour crackers was evidenced; additionally, nutritional nursing interventions and implementation of healthy foods. Keywords: Prevalence, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Preschool Children, Latin America, Treatment, Associated Factors, Nutrition, Interventions and Childhood.