1. Iron deficiency anaemia Flashcards
1
Q
How common is it?
A
Very - 1 in 4 globally
Accounts for half of cases of anaemia
2
Q
Who does it affect?
A
All ages
Most commonly infants, elderly and pregnant women
3
Q
What causes it?
A
Lack of iron intake
Heavy periods
Pregnancy
Internal bleeding
4
Q
What risk factors are there?
A
Extremes of age
Female sex
Pregnancy
5
Q
What signs may the patient have on examination?
A
Conjunctival pallor
Pale palmar creases
Angular stomatitis
Pallor
6
Q
What other conditions might present similarly?
A
Acute GI bleed
Rupture of vascular aneurysm
Malnutrition
Trauma (fracture)
7
Q
How would you investigate?
A
FBC Abdo USS Joint X-rays CT Upper endoscopy / colonoscopy
8
Q
What treatments are there?
A
Treat underlying cause
Iron supplements
Diet change
9
Q
What complications are there?
A
Prone to infection
Heart failure, tachycardia
Complications in pregnancy
