The prevalence of iron deficiency in apparently healthy Cape coloured infants.

In order to obtain a more accurate picture of the prevalences of anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, haematological iron deficiency and diminished iron stores, 240 Cape Coloured infants from the lower socio-economic groups were studied. Anaemia was diagnosed in 42 infants (17,5%), iron deficiency anaemia in 81 (34%), and haematological iron deficiency in 28%; 64 (27%) showed evidence of diminished iron stores. The findings indicate that iron deficiency was a common problem in the infants studied, and the same probably also applies to the community at large.