Anemia is a condition in which the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen for the
tissues.
Iron deficiency anemia is a common anemia in which haemoglobin can’t be formed due to the decreased iron level.
Causes and risk factors:
Iron deficiency anemia is more common in women especially pregnant women and there are many causes for it as:
1- Blood loss as in GIT or vaginal bleeding
2- Poor absorption as in celiac or crohns disease
3- Lack of iron in the diet
Signs and symptoms:
1- Easy fatigability
2- Pale skin and mucous membranes
3- Shortness of breath
4- Headache
5- Brittle nails with loss of lustre and koilonychia
6- Angular stomatitis
7- Decreased appetite
8- Tender tongue
9- Palpitations
10- Hair loss
11- Depression
In addition to the signs and symptoms of the cause of the anemia.
Diagnosis:
To prove anemia: (decreased Hb – RBCs – PCV)
To prove iron deficiency: (decreased MCV – MCH – MCHC – Iron – Serum Ferritin – Transferrin saturation and increased IBC – Free erythrocyte protopotphyrin)
To determine the cause: (Stool for ankylostoma – Occult blood in stool – GIT endoscopy)
To determine the cause: (Stool for ankylostoma – Occult blood in stool – GIT endoscopy)
Treatment:
1- Treatment of the cause
2- Iron supplements (oral with vitamin C to increase absorption, if the patient can’t tolerate that he can take it intravenous)
3- Blood transfusion in severe cases
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