Anaemia of infancy and bacterial infections in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

A retrospective survey of admission haemoglobins of infants with meningitis and pneumonia in two Papua New Guinea hospitals revealed significant anaemia. The meningitis cases were more anaemic than the pneumonia cases. Those with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis were more anaemic than those with pneumococcal meningitis, but better nourished.

The patients in this study were seen early in the course of acute infections. The marked anaemia observed is more likely to have been pre-existing than the result of the infection. These preliminary data suggest an association between anaemia and specific bacterial infection. In the New Guinea infants the main cause of anaemia is iron deficiency.