Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

Iron deficiency denotes a deficit in total body iron resulting from iron requirements that exceed its supply. IDA is a manifestation of an underlying disease condition and is not in itself a complete diagnosis. Common causes of IDA include: increased iron requirements (growth-spurt, pregnancy and lactation), blood loss (blood donation, frequent phlebotomy, chronic bleeding), worm infestation (hookworm), and inadequate iron supply (malnutrition, malabsorption). The symptoms of IDA include fatigue, giddiness, headache, tinnitus, palpitations, sore tongue and dysphagia and are not specific to IDA.

Diagnosis: clinical

Treatment:

Drug Treatment

Ferrous sulfate, 325 mg tablets (65 mg elemental iron), or any other iron salt, taken tid between meals to maximize absorption is the treatment of choice. Treatment is continued for at least 3 months following correction of the anemia to replenish iron stores.

S/E: Nausea, abdominal cramps and dyspeptic symptoms, constipation or diarrhea. For patients who do not tolerate ferrous sulfate tablets, they may be advised to take it with meals, or to start a smaller dose, or to change the brand to ferrous gluconate or fumarate tablets or elixir forms.

D/I: Antacids, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and quinolone antibiotics interfere with the absorption and metabolism of iron.

N.B.

In severe cases, refer to the near by Health center