Management Of Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Lab Findings:

With strong history relevance and clinical suspicion, we can highly suspect Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Following are the investigation required to confirm anemia.
1) Complete Blood Picture
It will show microcytosis, hypochromia, poikilocytosis, nucleated RBCs i-e
Decreased Hb
Decreased MCV
Decreased MCH
Increase RDW
Lower Reticulocytes
2) Decrease in Serum Ferratin
3) Increase in TIBC
4) Occult blood in stool examination can be seen in early cow milk ingestion.

TREATMENT:

DIETARY MODIFICATION:

It include dark green leafy vegetables like Spinach, Apples, Appricots, Dates, Olives, Mushrooms.

ORAL THERAPY;

Ferrous Sulphate Tablets is most common method of therapy. 

Dosage: 5mg per kg per day in two divided doses.

CONSIDERATIONS:

A) Limit Milk. It will increase dietary iron.

Peripheral Reticulocytosis occurs within 72-96 hours while increase in hemoglobin occurs over 4-30 days.

B) Continue iron for 8 weeks after blood values normalize because depletion of iron occurs in 1 to 3 months after start of treatment.

PARENTERAL THERAPY:

Indications of Parenteral Therapy includes:

1) Malabsorbtion Syndrom

2) Those who cannot tolerate oral therpy.

BLOOD TRANSFUSSION:

Blood transfusion is the most effective method to deliver iron but is not standard method of correcting iron deficiency anemia.

In case of Parasite infestation, Albandazole or Mebendazole or other anti-parasitic drugs are given.

Pale skin is sign of Iron Deficiency Anemia.

The most typical signs of anemia are pale skin.
A common symptom associated with iron deficiency is pale skin. As your iron levels are depleted, your body is unable to manufacture the chemical hemoglobin, a reddish compound, which is an essential part of red blood cells. When this occurs, you develop a condition called iron deficiency anemia. As anemia worsens, your skin begins to lose its normal color and become pale. If you notice that your skin is paler than usual, consult a doctor and ask about iron deficiency and anemia.

Chest Pain is a Symptom of Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Iron Deficiency Anemia can lead to chest pain leading to heart attack. Older people with iron deficiency anaemia may get angina (pain in the chest) because the heart has to work harder to supply enough oxygen to the body.

Extreme fatigue (tiredness) is symptom of Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Iron is an essential nutrient, critical for producing hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that transports oxygen all over the body. If you don¹t have enough iron, your body has to work a whole lot harder to get the energy it needs, which can leave you feeling tired, weak, irritable and unable to focus.
Many equate iron deficiency with anemia, the condition in which your body has a lower than normal number of red blood cells. But research shows that there's a whole other category of iron deficiency that precedes anemia. To diagnose it, a blood test must measure ferritin levels, the iron stores in your blood.

Your Nails can tell about your disease !!!

Your nails can tell about your disease. Some of them can be checked with the following table.

Nail Appearance	Associated Condition
White nails	Liver diseases, such as hepatitis
Yellowish, thickened, slow-growing nails	Lung diseases, such as emphysema
Yellowish nails with a slight blush at the base	Diabetes
Half-white, half-pink nails	Kidney disease
Red nail beds	Heart disease
Pale or white nail beds	Anemia
Pitting or rippling of the nail surface	Psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis
"Clubbing," a painless increase in tissue around the ends of the fingers, or inversion of the nail	Lung diseases
Irregular red lines at the base of the nail fold	Lupus or connective tissue disease
Dark lines beneath the nail	Melanoma

Brittle Nails is a Sign of Iron Deficiency Anemia

 Brittle Nails is a Sign of Iron Deficiency Anemia

If you have brittle nails, you may be suffering from the most common form of anemia: iron deficiency. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 percent of all women, 50 percent of pregnant women and 3 percent of men lack the right amount of iron. Your treatment program depends upon the cause of your iron shortage.

Iron & Your Nails

Your fingernails and toenails, consisting of hardened layers of protein called keratin, serve to protect the soft tissue of your fingers and toes. The Mayo Clinic says that when you suffer from anemia caused by iron deficiency, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin--the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your system. This lack of oxygen prohibits the healthy growth of your nails.

Important Iron Deficiency Anemia Signs and Symptoms

• Clinical Presentation
  • Iron-deficiency anemia can cause:
  • brittle nails
  • cracks in the sides of the mouth
• • Extreme fatigue (tiredness)
  • chest pain
• • Pale skin
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
• • Fast heart rate
  • Headache
• • an enlarged spleen
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Frequent infections.
  • Irritability
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling or soreness of the tongue
• • An unusual craving for non-nutritive substances such as:
  • Ice
  • Dirt
  • Paint or starch.
  • This craving is called pica.
  • Some people who have iron-deficiency anemia develop restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move the legs.
• • Some signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are related to the condition's causes.
  • A sign of intestinal bleeding is bright red blood in the stools or black, tarry-looking stools.
  • Very heavy menstrual bleeding, long periods, or other vaginal bleeding may suggest that a woman is at risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
• • Severe iron-deficiency anemia can lead to:
  • Problems with growth and development
  • in children
  • Angina (chest pain)
  • Leg pains (intermittent claudication)