We sought to examine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children and compare the data obtained by the clinical method known as "palmar pallor" and the laboratory exam on the Family Health Strategy services in the municipality of Panambi-RS. The exploratory, descriptive and quantitative research was carried out from March to June 2009. The subjects were 41 children from the age of 2 months up to 5 years old. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Out of the total number of children, 51,2% of them were male; 41,46% of them fit in the age frame from 0 to 12 months old; 53,6% belonged to families of D social level while 43,9% of the family chiefs have complete Elementary Education or incomplete Junior High School. Considering the palmar pallor, the prevalence of anemia was 51,2% and as per the lab exam, by 58,53%. The study shows that the palmar pallor and the laboratory exam when used together provide a more accurate diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia, can be inserted in the professional nursing practice in the ESF.
Nursing; Child Care; Anemia Iron-Deficieny; Pallor; Diagnosis
