Iron deficiency in children undergoing adenoid-tonsillectomy.

Following a preliminary study of peripheral blood values in 30 children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, a biochemical survey of the iron status of another 108 children also undergoing this operation was made utilizing an automated micro-method. It was shown that 8.4% of these children were frankly iron-deficient but there was no statistical relationship between the levels of serum iron and iron-binding capacity, the incidence of throat infections and the levels of the plasma immunoglobulins. Assessment of all children undergoing this operation for the presence of iron deficiency is advocated as a possible routine screening procedure.