[Frequency of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in infancy and childhood (author's transl)].

266 children with iron deficiency were treated over a period of 2 years. The incidence rate and age distribution did not deviate much compared with former results. A different incidence of iron deficiency was found when 120 healthy children from 2 socially and economically different groups were examined. In both groups together the incidence rate of iron deficiency was 19%. But while in the socially higher standing group only 5% were afflicted, the other group showed 33%. This difference questions the value of generally iron medication and favours the opinion that iron deficiency indicates that children have not been looked after properly.