Anemia, Micronutrient Status, and Anthropometric Indicators in Undernourished Under-five Children: A Comprehensive Study on Nutritional Health.

Introduction: Undernutrition in children is a serious global issue that adversely affects their physical and cognitive development. Anemia is a significant comorbidity contributing to increased mortality in undernourished children. However, it is not being addressed adequately. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and laboratory profile of anemia in undernutrition among under-five children. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children between six months to five years of age with undernutrition in a tertiary hospital in North India over a period of one year between December 2021 to December 2022. We observed the prevalence of anemia, its morphological type, micronutrient status, clinical features, and demographic parameters of these children. Results: Of the 200 children who were enrolled in the study, 72% were found anemic with the proportion of mild, moderate, and severe anemia being 14%,33%, and 25% respectively. The most common type of anemia was microcytic (46.5%) followed by macrocytic (24.3%). Iron (68.7%) was the most common micronutrient deficient in these children with a significant number suffering from vitamin B12 (45.8%) deficiency. Mid-upper arm circumference, worm infestation, pica, and all serum-related parameters had statistical significance in comparison with the severity of anemia. Conclusion: Despite the significant trend in various aspects of human development, undernutrition and anemia remain a formidable challenge, especially in developing countries. A high proportion of anemia in undernutrition indicates the gravity of the issue, yet not received the deserved attention.