Biochemical, immunological, and hematological characterization of the child population in El Anegado parish

Abstract

Through nutrition, the body was able to consume, absorb, and utilize essential nutrients, allowing it to achieve comprehensive development and maintain its internal balance. The objective of the study was to characterize the biochemical, immunological, and hematological status of the child population in El Anegado parish. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, and prospective methodology was applied to 48 children under 5 years of age. Demographically, there was a predominance of males (58.3%) over females (41.7%), with a frequent age of 5 years (31.3%) and 64.4% of infants outside the basic education system. The surveys revealed that the representatives were aware of dietary guidelines, reporting consumption of fruits and vegetables (97.9%), legumes (95.5%), and proteins (89.6%); however, 52.1% lacked structured habits. Biochemical analyses showed hypercholesterolemia (4.2%), hypertriglyceridemia (6.3%), and low serum iron levels (16.7%). The hematological profile highlighted anemia (70.8%), neutropenia (89.6%), neutrophilia (31.3%), leukocytosis (8.3%), and variations in thrombocytosis (6.3% and 4.2%), with no significant immunological alterations recorded. It was concluded that the general condition of this child population shows critical alterations that require timely attention, nutritional intervention, and rigorous clinical follow-up to mitigate long-term health risks.