IRON-DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA
Iron-deficiency anaemia is the commonest nutritional deficiency disorder present
throughout the world, but its prevalence is higher in the developing countries.
Iron deficiency anaemia is much more common:
In women between 20–45 years than in men
At periods of active growth in infancy, childhood and adolescence.
Daily requirement.
Only 10% of the dietary intake of iron is absorbed. Therefore, daily requirement
o adult males is 5–10 mg/day
o females is 20 mg/day (to compensate the menstrual loss).
o Pregnant and lactating women require about 40 mg of iron per day.
CAUSES OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA
Causes of iron-deficiency vary with age, sex and country of residence of patient.
In general, the causes of iron deficiency anaemia can be grouped as:
Inadequate dietary intake of iron as in:
o Milk fed infants,
o Poor economic status individuals,
o Anorexia, e.g. in pregnancy and
o Elderly individuals due to atrophy and poor dentition.
Increased loss of iron (as blood loss) from the body, e.g.
o Uterine bleeding in females in the form of excessive menstruation, repeated
miscarriages, post-menopausal bleeding, etc.
o Gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic ulcer, haemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis,
etc. Renal tract bleeding, e.g. haematuria.
o Nasal bleeding, i.e. repeated epistaxis.
o Bleeding from lungs as haemoptysis.
Iron-deficiency anaemia is the commonest nutritional deficiency disorder present
throughout the world, but its prevalence is higher in the developing countries.
Iron deficiency anaemia is much more common:
In women between 20–45 years than in men
At periods of active growth in infancy, childhood and adolescence.
Daily requirement.
Only 10% of the dietary intake of iron is absorbed. Therefore, daily requirement
o adult males is 5–10 mg/day
o females is 20 mg/day (to compensate the menstrual loss).
o Pregnant and lactating women require about 40 mg of iron per day.
CAUSES OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA
Causes of iron-deficiency vary with age, sex and country of residence of patient.
In general, the causes of iron deficiency anaemia can be grouped as:
Inadequate dietary intake of iron as in:
o Milk fed infants,
o Poor economic status individuals,
o Anorexia, e.g. in pregnancy and
o Elderly individuals due to atrophy and poor dentition.
Increased loss of iron (as blood loss) from the body, e.g.
o Uterine bleeding in females in the form of excessive menstruation, repeated
miscarriages, post-menopausal bleeding, etc.
o Gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic ulcer, haemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis,
etc. Renal tract bleeding, e.g. haematuria.
o Nasal bleeding, i.e. repeated epistaxis.
o Bleeding from lungs as haemoptysis.
