Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha. Egypt
2
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
3
Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
4
Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic pediatric airway disease frequently associated with immune dysregulation and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron. Increasing evidence suggests that iron metabolism and eosinophilic inflammation may influence asthma onset and severity. This study aims to evaluate of iron profile, eosinophil count, and neutrophil count roles as potential risk factors and predictors of asthma severity in Egyptian children. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 children aged 2–18 years, including 50 asthmatic patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All subjects underwent clinical assessment and laboratory evaluation of CBC, serum iron (SI), ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS), and differential leukocyte counts. Results: Asthmatic children showed significantly lower SI (32.7 vs. 72 µg/dL, P = 0.001), ferritin (34 vs. 65 ng/mL, P < 0.001), and TS, with elevated eosinophil counts (2.2 vs. 0.9, P < 0.001) and TIBC (P = 0.015). Eosinophil count had highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.939), followed by ferritin (AUC = 0.744) and iron (AUC = 0.686). Logistic regression identified low iron, low ferritin, and high eosinophil count as significant asthma predictors (P < 0.001), while neutrophil count was not. Conclusion: Iron deficiency and elevated eosinophil levels are reliable predictors of asthma occurrence and severity in children, offering potential utility for early risk stratification and personalized management.
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