Patient Information Center - ANEMIA

WHAT IS IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA?
Iron Deficiency Anemia (also called IDA) is a condition where a person has inadequate amounts of iron to meet body demands. If uncorrected it leads to reduced work capacity, diminished learning ability, increased susceptibility to infection and greater risk of death.


IS IRON IMPORTANT?
Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying pigment in the blood. Iron-deficient people tire easily because their bodies are starved for oxygen.
Iron is also part of myoglobin. Myoglobin helps muscle cells use oxygen. Without enough iron, the body's fuel cannot be properly utilized.


 

WHICH PEOPLE ARE MOST AFFECTED AND WHY?
Iron Deficiency anemia occurs frequently in:
(a) Pregnancy
(b) Infancy (at birth, infant has enough stored iron for 3-6 months,
making it important to feed iron-fortified cereals after 6 months of age)
(c) Growing children and teens (due to an increased utilization);
(d) Women of child-bearing ages (due to monthly menstrual losses, repeated pregnancies); and
(e) The elderly (due to poor dietary intake, Long term aspirin use, colon cancer or Peptic ulcer disease).
(f) Vegetarians because they don't eat meat, (especially red meat) which is high in iron



SOURCES OF DIETARY IRON:

PEOPLE WITH IDA SUFFER FROM:
There are many symptoms of anemia. Each individual will not experience all the symptoms and if the anemia is mild, the symptoms may not be noticeable. Some of the symptoms are: Pale skin color, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, sore tongue, brittle nails, decreased appetite (especially in children)and headache.

HOW TO DIAGNOSE
There are several complex lab tests done to diagnose iron deficiency anemia, the most important is serum ferritin for early diagnosis & the simplest is Hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin ranges are:
In adults:
• Men, <13 g/dL
• Menstruating women, <12 g/dL
In infancy and childhood:
• 0.5-4.9 years, <11 g/dL
• 5.0-11.9 years, <11.5 mg/dL
In pregnancy:
• First and third trimesters, <11 g/dL
• Second trimester, <10.5 g/dL

 

TREATMENT:

  1. Eat a lot of meat, fish & liver
  2. Avoid phosphates (cheese, soft drinks, fast-food, sausages), phytates (cereals), tannins (coffee, tea), oxalates (chocolate), alginates (pudding, instant soups, ice cream), polyphenoles (vegetables, cereals, spices) since they inhibit iron absorption.
  3. Ideal iron preparation for oral therapy should be:

    4. - Given with vit.C to increase iron absorption
    - A recommended daily dose of 100mg iron is required, so that the desired 20mg should be absorbed
    - A common error is to discontinue iron therapy after the hemoglobin rises toward normal, this is because replenishment of iron stores occurs slowly & therapy must be continued for 3-4 months if stores are to be repleted.

  4. Parenteral administration should be reserved for those subjects who are unable to tolerate or absorb orally administrated iron because of its systemic reactions which may be severe (headache, fever, arthralgia, back pain and fatal anaphylactic shock).