In patients with malaria, we defined iron deficiency as plasma ferritin<30μg/ml if plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) was<50mg/ml or ferritin<273μg/ml if CRP≥50mg/ml, and in those without malaria, as ferritin<12μg/ml if CRP<10mg/ml or ferritin<30μg/ml if CRP≥10mg/ml. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is Iron deficiency anemia.