Abdul Rehman.
Clinical efficacy of Ferrous sulfate and Iron Polymaltose complex.
Pak Paed J Jan ;29(1):15-8.

Objectives: To compare the clinical response and side effects of ferrous sulfate and iron polymaltose complex in young children. Study Design: randomized clinical trial. Setting: Pediatric department of Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Liaquetpur. Patients and Methods: The children with age group 9 to 24 months coming with the history of pallor and hemoglobin level 6 to 9gm were included. Children were randomized into group A (iron polymaltose) and group B (ferrous sulfate). All the children were given albendazole and all were put on prophylactic antimalarial (chloroquin 5 mg/kg/weekly) during the period of study. Antimalarial drug artemether was also given if slide for malarial parasites was positive. The children were assessed after 1 month of treatment. Results: There were 41 children allotted to Group A and 39 to group B. There-were one child of group A and 15 children of group B who left the study due to side effects. Loose motions, vomiting, staining of teeth or tongue and black stools were observed in 9.75%, 00%, 4.88% and 21.95% in group A and 46.15%, 5.13 %, 76.49% and 79.49% in group B. The difference of hemoglobin levels at the start of the study (in those cases who completed their treatment) of the two groups was not statistically significant (t test p=0.3346). At the end of treatment the children of group B were having higher hemoglobin level as compared to those of group A (t test p=0.0001). Conclusion: Ferrous sulfate has a better clinical response as well as more chances of side effects compared to iron polymaltose complex.

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