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Iron deficiency anemia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Reticulocytes

Blood cells

Iron deficiency anemia

Alternative Names:

Anemia - iron deficiency
Symptoms:

Pale skin color
Fatigue
Irritability
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Sore tongue
Brittle nails
Unusual food cravings (called pica)
Decreased appetite (especially in children)
Headache - frontal
Blue tinge to sclerae (whites of eyes)

Note: There may be no symptoms if anemia is mild.
Signs and tests:

Low hematocrit and hemoglobin (red blood cell measures)
Small red blood cells
Low serum ferritin
Low serum iron level
High iron binding capacity (TIBC) in the blood
Blood in stool (visible or microscopic)

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