Skip to main content

Iron deficiency anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia


Blood loss


Most common cause is gastrointestinal blood loss result from occult gastric or colorectal malignancy, diverticulitis, polyps, gastritis, peptic ulceration, inflammatory bowel disease and angiodysplastic lesions.
Other causes : schistostomiasis, hookworm, aspirin, NSAIDS.
Very rarely chronic haemoptysis or haematuria.

Malabsorption

Achlorhydria (that is lack of gastric acid secretion) in the elderly or due to drugs such as proton pump inhibitors may contribute to the lack of iron availability from the diet.

Physiological demands

At the time of rapid growth, such as in infancy and puberty
In pregnancy, iron is diverted to the fetus.

Investigations 

Confirmation of iron deficiency 

Single best test to detect iron deficiency is measure of plasma ferritin level in blood.
Others are plasma iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC)

 Investigation of the cause

It depends upon age, sex, underlying disease such as GI bleeding.
Endoscopy, radiological studies.
Check Serum anti-endomysial or anti-transglutaminase antibodies.
Stool and urine analysis for any parasites.

Management

Oral

Ferrous sulphate 200 mg 3 times daily.
Ferrous gluconate 300 mg twice daily.

Intravenous 

Iron dextran.
Iron sucrose.
Iron isomaltose.
Iron carboxymaltose.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Please do not enter any spam link in the comment box.

Popular posts from this blog

Mechanism of Normal Labor

  Mechanism of normal labor Definition: The series of movements that occur on the head in the process of adaptation during its journey through the pelvis is called mechanism of labor. Mechanism:   In normal labor, the head enters the brim more commonly through the available transverse diameter (70%) and to the lesser extent through one of the oblique diameters. The position is either occipitolateral or oblique occipitoanterior. Left occipitoanterior is more common than right occipitoanterior as the left oblique diameter is encroached by the rectum. The engaging anteroposterior diameter of the head is either suboccipitobregmatic 9.5 cm or in slight deflexion-the suboccipitofrontal 10 cm. The engaging transverse diameter is biparietal 9.5 cm. As the occipitolateral position is most common, the mechanism of the labor in such position will be described. The principal movements are: Engagement Descent Flexion Internal rotation  Crowning Extension Restitution External rot...
Post a Comment
Read more

INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (IE)

INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (IE) It is the colonisation of the heart valves with microbiological organisms, leading to the formation of friable, infected vegetations and frequently valve injury. Types ACUTE INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS : caused by highly virulent organisms mainly Staphylococcus Aureus (20-30%), seeding a previously normal valve. SUBACUTE INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS : caused by organisms of moderate or low virulence mainly STREPTOCOCCI (60-70%), seeding an abnormal or previously injured valve. ENDOCARDITIS OCCURING IN I/V DRUG ABUSERS : caused predominantly by organisms found on the skin (S. aureus, Candida) and affecting the valves on the right side of the heart. PROSTHETIC VALVE ENDOCARDITIS : This may be early ( symptoms appearing within 60 days of valve insertion ), due to intraoperative infection of the valve or insertion of an infected valve or late ( after 60 days of valve insertion), due to late bacteremia. Predisposing factors to developement of IE Congenital cardiac anoma...
Post a Comment
Read more

Alopecia (Baldness)

 Alopecia: causes, diagnose, and treatment Alopecia : Alopecia means loss of hair. There are two types of alopecia. Non-cicatricial alopecia Cicatricial alopecia Difference between cicatricial and noncicatricial alopecia Alopecia Areata (AA) Etiology The pathogenesis of AA is uncertain and following factors are incriminated: Immunological factors: AA is considered an immunological disease because of: Association of AA with other auto-immune diseases (auto-immune thyroid disease, pernicious anemia, vitiligo, and atopy) Cytokines produced by dermal papillae in lesions not only attract lymphocytes to perifollicular region but also stimulate them to multiply. As opposed to normal hairs, strong major histocompatibility complex (class 1 and class 2) immunoreactivity found in affected follicles. 2. Genetic factors: AA may be present in some families, so it may have a genetic basis. 3. Emotional factors: In some patients, AA is precipitated by emotional stress. Epidemiology     P...
Post a Comment
Read more