Iron Deficiency may be a Risk Factor for Inguinal Hernia Development in Children

OBJECTIVES: This case control study aimed to investigate whether the routine hemogram and biochemical parameters of pediatric patients who have undergone surgery for inguinal hernia are associated with the etiopathogenesis of the disease. METHODS: Eighty cases of inguinal hernia surgery performed between January 2019 and November 2022 were included in the study. A control group was also established using hospital records, consisting of eighty pediatric patients without any known history of hematological or metabolic disease or use of regular medication. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the total hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Htc), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), erythrocyte distribution width (RDW) and thrombocyte (PLT) values in both groups. RESULTS: The age range of the pediatric patients was 1-14 years. Of the eighty children, 47 (58.8%) were male and 33 (41.3%) were female, with a mean age of 5.79±3.26. The values of Hgb, Htc, MCH, MCHC, and MCV in the inguinal hernia patients were found to be statistically significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, the patient RDW values were found to be statistically significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, the observed decrease in MCH, MCHC, MCV, Hgb, HTC values, as well as the increase in RDW in patient group, suggests a predisposing effect of iron deficiency. These specific changes suggested that iron deficiency may lead structural changes in the collagen construction and may contribute the etiopathogenesis of childhood inguinal hernia.