iron deficiency anaemia Flashcards
1
Q
why do children tend to get IDA?
A
- rapid growth of the child
- poor intake of iron rich foods
2
Q
why might cows milk cause IDA?
A
- induces chronic microscopic bleeding
- incidence can be up to 50% in some populations
3
Q
what clinical features might they have?
A
- pallor
- anorexia and irritability in extreme deficiency
- attention span, alertness and learning are all affected
4
Q
what is the initial finding in IDA?
A
- low ferritin levels
- microcytic hypochromic anaemia
5
Q
how is it treated?
A
- give iron salts over 2-3 months (sytron)
- limit consumption of milk to 1 pint daily
- consumption of more iron rich foods
6
Q
how can it be prevented?
A
- breast milk is protective, iron absorbed well in breast milk due to lactoferrin
- avoid cows milk in 1st year of life
- tea is inadvisable as it reduces absorption
- anaemia screening
7
Q
what might you want to consider in the history?
A
- ethnic origin
- evidence of blood loss (haemoptysis, melaena, haematuria, menorrhagia)
- diet
- chronic infections
- drug history
- family history (inherited anaemias)
- recent travel
8
Q
what tests might you want to do?
A
- coombs test
- blood film: shows spherocytosis, ghost or bite cells in G6PD
- bone marrow biopsy
