Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia

A prevalent type of anemia, in which the blood does not contain enough healthy red blood cells, is iron deficiency anemia. The body's tissues receive oxygen through red blood cells.

Iron deficiency anemia, as the name suggests, is brought on by a lack of iron. Your body needs iron to produce enough of a component in red blood cells that makes it possible for them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). Thus, iron deficiency anemia may make you feel lethargic and breathless.

IBecause it is necessary for several metabolic activities, including as oxygen transport, DNA synthesis, and electron transport, ron is crucial for all living things. To make sure that enough iron is absorbed to make up for body losses of iron, iron balance in the body is carefully managed. Although body loss of iron has a similar quantitative impact to absorption in terms of preserving iron equilibrium, absorption is a more active process.

Risk factors

• infants who are exclusively breastfed and who don't receive iron-rich supplemental foods beyond six months
• infants who consume formula without an iron supplement
• Children between the ages of 1 and 5 who consume more than 24 ounces (710 milliliters) of cow's milk, goat's milk, or soy milk per day Kids with certain medical conditions, like long-term infections or dietary restrictions
• children exposed to lead between the ages of one and five

Causes

• Inadequate supply of iron

1. deficiencies in dietary intake include fast growth, drinking too much milk, delaying weaning, and bad eating habits.

2. Low birth weight and fetal blood loss are symptoms of inadequate iron stores during birth.

• Impaired absorption

1. iron inhibitors present, such as high calcium and fiber

2. malnutrition and persistent diarrhea

• Blood loss: - Hemorrhage, worm infestation
• Excessive demand: adolescence
• Inability to form hemoglobin: lack of B12, folic acid

Signs and symptoms

• pallor
• irritability
• weakness
• thrive failure
• easy fatigue
• splenomegaly
• cardiomegaly
• systolic/diastolic murmurs
• atrophied tongue
• malabsorption
• thin brittle and flat nail
• pica eating
• poor school performance
• attention deficit
• spoon shaped and concave shaped nail (koilonychia)
• With more severe anemia, your child may have:
  • Blue-tinged or very pale whites of eyes
  • Brittle nails
  • Pale skin color

Diagnosis

1. Blood examination

• Microcytic hypochromic red blood cells with abnormal size and shape can be seen in peripheral blood smears.
• Normal or reduce reticulocytes count
• PCV, MCH, MHCH,and MCV values are low
• White blood cell and platelets counts are usually normal
• Serum iron level is low and iron binding capacity is high
• serum ferritin level is decreased

2. Specific investigation to find out any underlying conditions

3. Dietary history, history of illness and clinical examination findings

Treatment

• Detection of underlying causes
• Treatment of underlying causes
• The best way to prevent and treat iron deficiency is to eat a healthy diet. Suitable iron sources include:

                            1. Apricots

                            2. Chicken, turkey, fish, and other meats

                            3. Dried beans, lentils, and soybeans

                            4. Eggs

                            5. Liver

                            6. Molasses

                            7. Oatmeal

                            8. Peanut butter

                            9.  Prune juice

                           10. Raisins and prunes

                           11. Spinach, kale, and other greens

• Oral, intramuscular, or intravenous routes can all be used to give iron treatment. Elemental iron doses of 3 to 5 mg/kg per day are administered orally in split doses between meals. The length of therapy might range from three to six months. Effects from therapy should be monitored in between sessions so that any necessary adjustments can be made. When oral intolerance, poor absorption, and low compliance are observed, parenteral iron therapy is recommended.

Parenteral Iron Therapy ( Iron dextran)

For infants and adults, the daily intake of iron dextran complex should not exceed 50 mg. The desired hemoglobin increase is used to evaluate it. 75 to 90 ml/kg on average of blood volume. Iron is present in hemoglobin at 3.4 milligrams per gram. To replenish bodily iron stores, 50% additional iron should be administered. Deep intramuscular or intravenous injections are administered.

• Blood transfusion

When to treat anemia, imminent congestive heart failure, or if an infection is present that causes inefficient iron absorption. To avoid cardiac overload, only packed cells should be administered at a modest rate. To avoid cardiac overload and failure brought on by severe anemia during a transfusion, administer one to two doses of frusemide 1-2 mg/kg intravenously.

• De- worming periodically
• Symptomatic and supportive care to be provided as required
• Health education about prevention of iron deficiency anemia:

                1. Providing all antenatal mothers with adequate prenatal care to prevent maternal anemia and iron-folic acid supplements

                2. Prevention of preterm delivery and control of infections in prenatal, natal and neonatal period

                3. Timely weaning of baby

                4. Immunization to all children

                 5. Iron- folic acid supplementation to the children and adolescent girls

                6. Adequate treatment of parasitic infestation, chronic illness, and iron deficiency anemia

                7. Improvement of living conditions;

Avoiding open field defecation, maintaining environmental sanitation, taking hygienic precautions, wearing shoes, maintaining a healthy diet, and preventing disorders related to nutritional deficiencies, among other things.

Prevention

The best strategy to prevent and treat iron deficiency is to consume a nutritious diet.

Complications

• A child's ability to learn in school may be impacted by anemia brought on by low iron levels. Children with low iron levels may have trouble learning and have shorter attention spans and less alertness.
• A low iron level can cause the body to absorb too much lead.