IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA, ITS DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT WITH DIET & MEDICINE

 

Anemia:

Anemia is a disease in which human blood doesn’t have enough hemoglobin(Hb) in it. This affects the blood’s ability to carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. Iron deficiency is a major cause of anemia.

Red blood cells, contain Hemoglobin.

 

CAUSES OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA:

Deficiency of iron is mostly associated with dietary habits, low iron diet or sometimes excessive bleeding from any source over a long period of  time that depletes body stores of iron. Following are the major causes of iron deficiency in the human body.

·       Low iron diet.

·       Bleeding from the digestive tract.

·       Bleeding from the urinary tract.

·       Heavy menstrual bleeding in females.

·       Pregnancy.

·       Kidney disease.

·       Ulcers.

·       Malabsorption (iron not properly absorbed from the digestive system.

·       Frequent blood donations.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF ANEMIA:

            Iron deficiency affects the ability of a person to function well. Most of the signs and symptoms don’t appear until iron deficiency anemia occurs. Following are the major signs and symptoms of anemia.

·        Pale skin.

·        Lethargy and Fatigue.

·        Hair loss.

·        Pica in children (urge to eat mud, ice, chalk, sand etc.)

·        Cold & clammy skin especially hands and feet.

·        Lack of energy

·        Slow development in children and delayed milestones.

·        Breathlessness & fatigability after a very small amount of work.

·        Lack of appetite.

DIAGNOSIS OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA:

                        Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia based on the blood reports. Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are generalized so the diagnosis needs to be confirmed by blood reports. The following blood reports indicate iron deficiency anemia.

·        COMPLETE BLOOD PICTURE (BLOOD CP):

                                    Blood complete picture shows decreased hemoglobin(Hb) (Anemia). Moreover, MCV, MCH, and MCHC will also be decreased.

A typical picture of Iron Deficiency Anemia

   

·        IRON PROFILE:

Suspected iron deficiency anemia can be confirmed by iron profile. It includes Serum Ferritin, Total Iron, TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity). In iron deficiency anemia Serum


ferritin and total iron are decreased and TIBC is increased.

Treatment:

·        WITH DIET:

  Slight iron deficiency can be treated by iron rich food. You can find IRON RICH FOOD HERE.

 

·        WITH ORAL MEDICINES:

A significant decrease in iron and Hb is initially treated by oral iron medications. Iron comes in the form of Iron Sucrose, Ferrous sulphate and other iron salts. These tablets can be taken for a long period of time depending upon the deficiency. These come in different brand names easily available in the markets.

Iron tablets have side effects in some cases. Frequent side effects include Constipation, Diarrhea, Black stool, Abdominal pain & Gastric Acidity.

Iron capsule

·        IV INJECTIONS:

Severe deficiency of iron warrants the use of intravenous injections/ drips. Intravenous iron comes in the form of Iron sucrose. This replenishes body iron rapidly.

·        BLOOD TRANSFUSION:

In a very severe deficiency of blood and hemoglobin, the doctor may advise transfusion. This is a drastic measure and used only as a last resort in life threatening conditions.

                   NOTE: Iron medication takes 3 months to take effect on Hb.

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