HAEMATINICS

Symptoms

People with iron-deficiency anaemia have symptoms caused by a low level of oxygen in the blood. These include:

	breathlessness
	tiredness
	dizziness
	rapid, weak pulse or palpitations
	headaches

Less common symptoms can include tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and altered taste.

As well as having the symptoms of anaemia, people with iron deficiency may have pale skin, brittle nails, cracked lips and an inflamed tongue. Very rarely, people get pica, which is a craving for non-food substances such as ice.

Occasionally, in women over 40, iron deficiency can be a symptom of a condition called Plummer-Vinson syndrome. This also causes swallowing difficulties and occasionally web-like growths in the oesophagus.

Iron deficiency can also reduce attention span, cause behavioural and developmental problems in young children and weaken the immune system.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of anaemia. For many people the treatment is iron tablets. The length of treatment with iron depends on how severe the anaemia is. The blood may be tested after a few weeks to check that the level of haemoglobin is returning to normal. Once the haemoglobin level is back to normal, iron supplements may still be advised for another three months. A diet high in iron will also be recommended.

Anyone who has difficulty absorbing iron may need iron injections instead of tablets.

Iron supplements can have side-effects. These include constipation, diarrhoea, an upset stomach or feeling sick. The stools may also turn black.

If there is an underlying cause, such as bleeding, this needs to be treated.

Prevention

The best way to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia is to eat a diet containing plenty of iron. The recommended daily amount is 7mg a day for men and 11mg a day for women. It's a good idea to eat foods containing vitamin C at the same time as eating non-meat sources of iron because this helps with iron absorption. Good sources of vitamin C include peppers, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit. Women who have heavy periods should consider taking an iron supplement. Speak to your GP or contact a dietician for more information.

WHO - FAO report on nutrition deficiency-related diseases.