PREVALENCE OF APLASTIC ANEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH PANCYTOPENIA PRESENTED IN PEDIATRIC UNIT IN SAIDU TEACHING HOSPITAL
Main Article Content
Keywords
Pancytopenia, Aplastic anemia, Children, Prevalence, Bone marrow failure, Pakistan
Abstract
Background: Pancytopenia is a common hematological finding in children, caused by diverse conditions ranging from nutritional deficiencies to malignant and marrow failure syndromes. Aplastic anemia is a particularly important etiology in South Asia, where its burden is higher compared to Western populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical profile of aplastic anemia in children presenting with pancytopenia at Saidu Teaching Hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Pediatric Unit of Saidu Teaching Hospital, Swat, from December 2023 to March 2025. A total of 120 children aged 1–15 years with pancytopenia (defined as hemoglobin <10 g/dL, total leukocyte count <4 × 10⁹/L, and platelet count <100 × 10⁹/L) were enrolled. Clinical features, laboratory findings, and bone marrow examination were documented. Aplastic anemia was diagnosed using Camitta’s criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: The mean age of patients was 8.4 ± 3.6 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. Pallor (89.2%) and fever (74.2%) were the most common presenting complaints, followed by bleeding manifestations (38.3%) and recurrent infections (31.7%). The leading causes of pancytopenia were megaloblastic anemia (30%), acute leukemia (25%), and aplastic anemia (16.7%), followed by infections (11.7%), hypersplenism (6.7%), and miscellaneous causes (10%). Among children with aplastic anemia (n=20), the mean age was 9.1 ± 3.2 years, with pallor (100%), bleeding (70%), and infections (55%) as the main features. Bone marrow examination revealed hypocellularity in all cases.
Conclusion: Aplastic anemia is a significant cause of pancytopenia in children in this region, ranking third after megaloblastic anemia and leukemia. Early recognition and prompt diagnostic evaluation are essential to initiate timely management and improve survival outcomes. Multicenter studies are warranted to strengthen the epidemiological evidence and guide better resource allocation in pediatric hematology services in Pakistan.
References
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All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Sajjad Hussain
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Medical College, Swat, Pakistan
Ihsanul Haq
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Medical College, Swat, Pakistan
Sardar Khan
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Medical College, Swat, Pakistan
Fazal Wahab
Senior Registrar, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Medical College, Swat, Pakistan
Fazalrabbani
Senior Registrar, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Medical College, Swat, Pakistan
Jawad
Consultant, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals, Swat, Pakistan
