How is iron deficiency anemia diagnosed?

Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia includes two aspects: one is to establish whether there is anemia caused by iron deficiency, and the other is to clarify the cause of the iron deficiency. First, we need to carefully inquire and analyze the medical history, combined with the patient's physical examination, which can provide a series of clues for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia. A definitive diagnosis also requires laboratory evidence. Clinically, we can divide iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia into three stages: iron deficiency, iron-deficient erythropoiesis, and iron deficiency anemia. The following describes the diagnostic criteria for iron deficiency anemia specifically. Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by a significant reduction in hemoglobin in red blood cells, presenting as microcytic hypochromic anemia. Its diagnostic basis includes three aspects: first, conforming to the diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron-deficient erythropoiesis; second, having microcytic hypochromic anemia; and third, effective treatment with iron supplements. These three factors together can confirm the diagnosis of this disease.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia in children?

Iron deficiency anemia can manifest as: 1. Gradual pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, especially noticeable on the lips, oral mucosa, and nail beds. Older children may experience dizziness, darkening before the eyes, and tinnitus. Additionally, anemia can lead to extramedullary hematopoiesis, and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes can occur. The younger the age and the longer the duration of the disease, the more severe the anemia and the more prominent the enlargement of the liver and spleen. 2. In terms of gastrointestinal tract: reduced appetite, pica, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomatitis may occur. 3. Nervous system manifestations include: restlessness or lethargy, lack of concentration, reduced memory, and intelligence often lower than peers of the same age. 4. Cardiovascular system: an increased heart rate may be observed, and in severe cases, cardiac enlargement and even heart failure can occur. 5. Immune system: Iron deficiency can affect hematopoietic function, often leading to reduced cell-mediated immune function and combined infections.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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What department should I go to for iron deficiency anemia?

Iron is one of the essential trace elements for the human body, and it is the most likely to be deficient among trace elements. Iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia, which is also identified by the World Health Organization as one of the global nutritional deficiency diseases and a major public health nutrition issue in China. According to epidemiological surveys, iron deficiency is related to the following factors: improper feeding during infancy, picky eating and nosebleeds during childhood and adolescence. In women, it is associated with excessive menstrual flow, poor nutrition, inadequate protein intake (especially low intake of animal proteins), inappropriate consumption methods of dairy products, as well as repeated pregnancies, breastfeeding, and certain diseases such as atrophic gastritis, chronic diarrhea, significant gastric resection, and hookworm infections, all of which can cause iron deficiency. Therefore, patients with iron deficiency anemia should consult the department of hematology, as iron deficiency anemia falls under the category of red blood cell disorders within hematology. Of course, infants, children, and adolescents under the age of 14 can visit pediatrics, and a portion of patients, such as pregnant and lactating women, can visit the obstetrics department.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia

There are many reasons for iron deficiency anemia, which we can categorize into several aspects. The first aspect is a decrease in iron intake, including diet, meaning insufficient dietary intake. The second aspect is decreased absorption, such as the absence of a target organ for absorption or the lack of stomach acid affecting its absorption efficacy. The second aspect refers to excessive loss, most commonly chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, such as in patients with tumors, duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, gastritis, ulcerative colitis, a parasitic infection with hookworms, as well as hemorrhoids, and arteriovenous malformations, all of which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding leading to increased iron loss. Excessive menstrual flow in female patients, multiple blood donations, and multiple pregnancies can all lead to iron deficiency. These are the various causes related to iron deficiency.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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The causes of iron deficiency anemia

The causes of iron deficiency anemia primarily refer to the disruption of the normal dynamic balance between iron absorption and excretion, leading to the consumption of stored iron as well as an increased need for iron and insufficient iron intake, especially in cases of chronic blood loss, resulting in a long-term negative iron balance. The causes of iron deficiency can be divided into two main aspects: insufficient iron intake and excessive iron loss. In the first aspect, decreased iron intake includes dietary insufficiency, meaning inadequate food intake, and reduced absorption, which includes decreased absorption due to lack of stomach acid and reduced absorption following gastric surgery. Excessive iron loss includes the following eight aspects: 1) gastrointestinal bleeding, which includes bleeding caused by tumors, gastrointestinal ulcers, gastritis, as well as bleeding due to parasites and hookworm infections. It also includes bleeding caused by hemorrhoids in men and arteriovenous malformations; 2) excessive menstrual bleeding; 3) frequent blood donations; 4) multiple pregnancies in women; 5) chronic intravascular hemolysis causing hemoglobinuria; 6) hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia; 7) primary pulmonary hemosiderosis; and 8) coagulation disorders or the use of anticoagulants leading to iron deficiency. These eight categories all result from excessive loss of iron, causing iron deficiency which leads to iron deficiency anemia.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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Which department should I go to for iron deficiency anemia?

The formed elements in the blood include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which play important roles in cellular metabolism, defense, and hemostasis, respectively. Among them, anemia falls under the category of red blood cell diseases. Iron-deficiency anemia refers to a condition where the body's iron stores are depleted, failing to meet the needs for normal red blood cell production. Before the production of red blood cells is restricted, the body's iron stores are already depleted, but anemia has not yet occurred, a condition we call iron deficiency, also known as the subclinical iron deficiency period clinically. Iron-deficiency anemia is a common red blood cell disease and falls under the category of hematology. Therefore, patients with iron-deficiency anemia should consult a specialist in hematology.