Anemia >> Iron Deficiency
Author: dr. Dava
This group includes a number of chronic anemia characterized by small, pale eritocitos. The causal factor is the depletion of iron stores by a discrepancy between requirements and intake.
In adults, chronic blood loss is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia, this may be physiological, for example, menstruation or multiple pregnancy losses or pathological as gastrointestinal ulcers, parasites or tumors.
The gastrointestinal tract disorders such as achlorhydria or chronic diarrhea, iron deficiency anemia can also cause an alteration in the mechanism of iron absorption. Also, during pregnancy there is some degree of hypochromic anemia caused by increased demand by the fetus accompanied by an increase in circulatory blood volume.
Children often have iron deficiency anemia during periods of rapid development by increased demands due to the constant growth of tissues
Iron deficiency anemia pure nutritional deficiency can be seen in children and adults who follow a milk-only diet, with rejection of other foods rich in iron.
Symptoms
Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are similar to those of other types of anemias. There is weakness, fatigue, pallor, dyspnea, vague gastrointestinal symptoms and even malabsorption. The onset is usually insidious. The skin, mucous membranes and nails are pale by the decrease of circulating hemoglobin. If the anemia is of long duration may be atrophy of lingual papillae.
Usually looking iron deficiency anemia, although the evidence of the deposits is reduced prior to the anemia. The best index of the ferritin screening as the sole cause of their decline is iron deficiency