Physical growth patterns and dental caries in thalassemia.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of age, ferritin level, hemoglobin level and chelating agents on the physical growth in thalassemic children and to determine the prevalence of dental caries in thalassemic children. Weight, standing height, sitting height and subischial leg length were measured in 65 children attending the Thalassemia day care center at a tertiary hospital in Delhi. Their mean pre transfusion hemoglobin and ferritin levels over the previous two years were calculated. Dental caries indices, DMFT and DMFS were measured and compared with age matched controls. Weight, standing height, sitting height and subischial leg length expressed as percentage for age in children >or=10 y were significantly lower than those of children < 6 y, and those 6 to 10 y. Mean hemoglobin and ferritin did not affect growth significantly. Sitting height for age in children receiving Desferrioxamine alone or Desferrioxamine with Deferiprone was significantly lower than that of children receiving Deferiprone alone or no chelating agent. Dental caries were significantly higher in thalassemics.