Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Iron deficiency anemia

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Anemia - iron deficiency


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

Note: There may be no symptoms if the anemia is mild.


Signs and tests
  • Fecal occult blood test
  • Hematocrit and hemoglobin (red blood cell measures)
  • Iron binding capacity (TIBC) in the blood
  • RBC indices
  • Serum ferritin
  • Serum iron level

Review Date: 03/21/2010
Reviewed By: James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)