Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in the world today. This is a major health issue especially in the developing countries. In our own country, Philippines, this is the most common type of nutritional anemia seen amongst us Filipinos.
In this condition, the hemoglobin content of the blood is lower than the prescribed normal value for a given age group as a result of a deficiency of one or more essential nutrients. This is common between the ages of 6 and 24 months.
The etiology of Iron Deficiency Anemia are the following:
A. Inadequate supply of iron
– lack of iron stores at birth
– inadequate intake , deficient dietary iron
B. Impaired absorption of iron in the body because of:
– chronic or recurrent diarrhea
– malabsorption syndrome
– gastrointestinal abnormalities
C. Excessive demands for iron required for growth like among the prematures, the low birth weight infants and the adolescents
D. Due to blood loss
– seen in acute or chronic hemorrhages
– in the presence of parasitic infections like hookworms, Trichuris trichiura
Clinically, patients with mild iron deficiency anemia appears well and is diagnosed on the basis of laboratory examinations.
Those with severe iron deficiency anemia may present with the following symptoms:
– irritability
– listlessness
– loss of appetite especially for solid foods
– pallor of skin and mucous membranes
– slightly enlarged spleen
– tachycardia
– cardiomegaly and murmur
– low mental and motor developmental test scores
– decreased work capacity and spontaneous activity