Anaemia is common reason of morbidity and mortality in children especially inthird world countries. 300 million children had anaemia globally in 2011. Nutritional IDA (irondeficiency anemia) is a most common anaemia especially in children as well as women.1Severe anaemia was present in 5.4% of anaemic children (62.1%) in national nutritional survey2011.1 Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is also a most common cause of childhood anaemia inPakistan. Factors causing anaemia are multiple including poverty, illiteracy and poor dietaryhabits. Objective: To know about the awareness of severe anaemia in children by their parentsand effect of various risk factors causing severe anaemia. Study Design: Prospective crosssectional study. Setting: Paediatric OPD Islam Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Period: Jan 2016 toJune 2017. Methods: Children who came to paediatric OPD of Islam Teaching Hospital, havingpallor were investigated for level of haemoglobin (Hb). Those included in this study were havingHb% < 7 gm/dl and parents were interviewed according to a questionnaire. Results: Only23% of parents were aware of anaemia in their children. Inadequate or no weaning was seen in95% of patients. 26% of children were underweight, had weight for age (WAZ) score less than-2 according to WHO standards. 83% of mothers were educated up to matric. All the childrenhad markedly low mean corpuscular volume (MCV). 72% of children were 24 months old orbelow. 80% of children were taking cows/buffalos milk. Conclusion: Age less than 24 months,poor socioeconomic status, lower education qualification of mother, poor weaning habits wereassociated with increased chances of severe anaemia and parents had poor awareness ofpallor/anaemia in children.

Anaemia is common reason of morbidity and mortality in children especially in third world countries. 300 million children had anaemia globally in 2011. Nutritional IDA (iron deficiency anemia) is a most common anaemia especially in children as well as women. 1 Severe anaemia was present in 5.4% of anaemic children (62.1%) in national nutritional survey 2011. 1 Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is also a most common cause of childhood anaemia in Pakistan. Factors causing anaemia are multiple including poverty, illiteracy and poor dietary habits. Objective: To know about the awareness of severe anaemia in children by their parents and effect of various risk factors causing severe anaemia. Study Design: Prospective cross sectional study. Setting: Paediatric OPD Islam Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Period: Jan 2016 to June 2017. Methods: Children who came to paediatric OPD of Islam Teaching Hospital, having pallor were investigated for level of haemoglobin (Hb). Those included in this study were having Hb% < 7 gm/dl and parents were interviewed according to a questionnaire. Results: Only 23% of parents were aware of anaemia in their children. Inadequate or no weaning was seen in 95% of patients. 26% of children were underweight, had weight for age (WAZ) score less than-2 according to WHO standards. 83% of mothers were educated up to matric. All the children had markedly low mean corpuscular volume (MCV). 72% of children were 24 months old or below. 80% of children were taking cows/buffalos milk. Conclusion: Age less than 24 months, poor socioeconomic status, lower education qualification of mother, poor weaning habits were associated with increased chances of severe anaemia and parents had poor awareness of pallor/anaemia in children.