Symptoms

Iron deficiency anaemia develops very slowly and it may be present without a person feeling any symptoms hence the disease often goes unrecognized for some time.

Signs and symptoms of Iron deficiency may include:

• Restless leg syndrome 
• Irritability 
• Pale skin
• Extreme fatigue
• Weakness
• Cold hands and feet
• Chest pain (Angina)
• Breathlessness (fast heartbeat or shortness of breath)
• Headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Cold hands and feet
• Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
• Poor appetite

Causes

The leading cause of iron deficiency anemia in the world is a parasitic disease known as helminthiasis and it is caused by infestation with parasitic worms (helminths). Iron deficiency anemia is also caused by a lack of iron in one's diet (inadequate iron intake), blood loss, pregnancy, inability to absorb iron, internal bleeding, endometriosis

More about Treatment

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia, and it occurs when your body doesn’t have enough of the mineral iron. The leading cause of the disease in the world is a parasitic disease known as helminthiasis. Treatment includes an iron-rich diet, iron supplements, and a focus on any underlying causes.

What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Anaemia is a medical condition that occurs when there is a decreased level of haemoglobin in the red blood cells. Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Anaemia occurs when the body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells and this can happen either from a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs.

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia, and it occurs when your body doesn’t have enough of the mineral iron. The body needs iron to make haemoglobin. When there isn’t enough iron in the blood, the rest of your body can’t get the amount of oxygen it needs.

Who Is Vulnerable To Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Iron deficiency anaemia is a common medical condition and it can occur in both men and women of any age. Some people may be at greater risk of iron deficiency anaemia than others, including:

• People who donate blood frequently
• People with poor diets
• Women of childbearing age (women who menstruate )
• Pregnant women
• Infants and children

What Are The Possible Complications?

Complications do not usually occur for mild cases of iron deficiency anaemia. However, if it is ignored, iron deficiency anaemia can become very severe and lead to serious health problems, including the following:

• Complications during pregnancy.

Iron deficiency anaemia occurs in many pregnant women because their iron stores need to serve their increased blood volume, as well as be a source of haemoglobin for the growing baby and placental development. In pregnant women, severe iron deficiency anaemia has been linked to premature births and low birth weight babies. But the condition is preventable in pregnant women who receive iron supplements as part of their prenatal care.

• Stunted Growth.

Infants are at increased risk of developing iron-deficiency anaemia due to their rapid growth. In infants and children, severe iron deficiency can lead to anaemia as well as delayed growth and development. 

• Heart problems. 

Palpitations are one of the common symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia and in very severe cases of iron deficiency anemia leads to an enlarged heart or heart failure.

FAQ

• What happens if I leave anaemia untreated?

Iron-deficiency anemia can lead to serious health problems if left untreated for too long because if haemoglobin is insufficient, the body will be unable to produce enough red blood cells that carry oxygen to vital organs, this can result in enlargement of the heart or even heart failure. 

• What are the complications of anaemia?

Inadequate haemoglobin in the blood results in reduced oxygen levels in the body tissues. This can result in a condition called hypoxia.

• Is lack of iron the only thing that can cause anaemia?

Anaemia occurs when the blood doesn't have enough red blood cells and can be caused by several reasons. Iron deficiency is not the only cause of anaemia, anaemia can also be caused when the body lacks the protein required to absorb vitamin B12 from the digestive tract when the body doesn’t absorb enough vitamin B12 from the digestive tract, it also causes an inability to produce enough red blood cells. This form of anaemia is known as pernicious anaemia 

Other serious forms of anaemia may be inherited. These include aplastic anaemia and sickle-cell anaemia.

• What are the different ways to supplement iron?

1. Eating food which is rich in iron
2. Oral iron supplements
3. Iron can be given intramuscularly

• Is anaemia hereditary?

Hereditary disorders can cause anaemia. Hereditary anaemia can be mild or severe depending upon the severity of the genetic disorder.