If the synthesis of hemoglobin is disturbed in the body, iron deficiency occurs. This leads to various physiological pathologies indicating anemia and sideropenia. Studies have shown that more than two billion people in the world suffer from this form of the disease of varying severity. Most often, children who feed her mother are exposed to her. Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is carried out in the clinic, after which treatment is prescribed. The doctor selects a diet and drugs depending on the patient’s age and well-being, based on laboratory tests
Reasons for the appearance
In the main risk group - women of childbearing age. This is due to the low supply of iron in the body, which is three times less than in men. The disease develops in 85% of pregnant women and 45% of young girls and boys. Often occurs in children who eat poorly. Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is an important point in time to assess the risk of complications.
A micronutrient deficiency is experienced by patients who need an increased dose. These are children, adolescents, nursing and pregnant. If the diet is unbalanced, irregular, some important foods are missing, there is a lack of iron in the body. Among the main sources are meat, fish and liver. You need to eat peas, soy, spinach, eggs, beans, prunes, buckwheat, brown bread.
There are several reasons why a disease occurs. This is due to absorption processes that are disturbed in the body. Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia will reveal chronic blood loss, hemoglobinuria, and iron transportation disorders. If you lose 5-10 ml of fluid every day, in a month the figure will be 250 ml. If the cause is not determined in time, anemia develops.
The disease occurs with heavy menstruation, uterine bleeding, hemorrhoidal nodes and anal fissures. In children, it occurs with helminthiases, hemosiderosis of the lungs, diathesis. Donors who donate often and hemodialysis patients. The problems are caused by chronic enteritis, gastrectomy, gastroectomy.
IDA development and degree
Laboratory diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia involves the identification of problems, regardless of whether they occur or not. Hidden forms may not bother the patient, so he does not know about his state of health. There are several forms of the development of the disease:
- The patient does not complain about health, and the study reveals a deficiency of ferritin.
- There is a mobilization of transport and tissue iron. Hemoglobin is synthesized. It is characterized by muscle weakness, dizziness, signs of gastritis, the skin dries. Examination shows a low transferrin saturation.
- The patient feels unwell, hemoglobin is low, then the number of red blood cells decreases.
There are several degrees of anemia in terms of hemoglobin content. After taking a blood sample, the presence of iron is detected with an indicator of 90 g / l, if the disease is just beginning to develop. An indicator of 70-90 g / l will indicate the average form. If the patient feels unwell, the form is severe, and the hemoglobin index will be below 70 g / l in the results.
When a disease is determined by laboratory tests, the results do not always coincide with the clinical manifestations of the disease. In the classification, the first degree is characterized by the absence of poor health, so the patient may not be aware of the state of the blood. The second degree is manifested by dizziness and weakness. With the onset of the third type, a person becomes disabled. The next step is a condition in front of a coma. At the last, a fatal outcome occurs.
The norm differs depending on age and gender. In newborns, it is 150-220 g / l, and in one month - 110-170 g / l. From two months to two years - 100-135 g / l. Up to 12 years old - 110-150 g / l. In adolescents - 115-155 g / l. For women, this figure will be 120-140 g / l, and for adult men - 130-160 g / l.
What you need to know about the disease
The etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia is determined by a hematologist. However, depending on the type of disease, another specialist may be competent. Most often they turn to a therapist, who will prescribe an examination, to identify the cause of the decrease in hemoglobin. If knowledge is not enough, he will be referred to a hematologist.
Almost all varieties of anemia are deficient in iron, vitamin B 12 and folic acid. The therapist will prescribe treatment, select a diet, prescribe iron preparations and the necessary vitamins. When the disease develops against the background of the pathology of the blood system, a narrow specialist will be needed.
In the absence of complications, it is not difficult to determine the disease. Often it is confirmed during examinations for another reason. A general blood test is taken, where a decrease in hemoglobin is revealed by the characteristic content of red blood cells. This serves as an occasion for laboratory diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia of the following stages:
- Hypochromic appearance.
- The nature of anemia.
- Reasons for IDA.
When interpreting, the doctor draws attention to the color of the blood, red blood cells. It is important to correctly recognize the disease, since in some cases iron preparations cannot be prescribed. This will lead to overload of the body with a substance.
Diagnosis of determination of iron deficiency anemia is carried out in such cases:
- Anemia with an enzymatic defect with a hereditary characteristic or after the use of certain types of medications.
- With thalassemia associated with a violation of the protein part of hemoglobin. It is characterized by an increase in the spleen, increased bilirubin.
- Anemia against a background of chronic diseases. The group includes inflammatory diseases of an infectious nature. This includes sepsis, tuberculosis, malignant tumors, rheumatoid arthritis.
Determining the causes of the disease
To avoid diagnosis errors, differential diagnosis of B12 and iron deficiency anemia is carried out, adhering to the rules and recommendations. This will allow you to prescribe timely effective treatment. Here are some rules for conducting a study:
- First examination, then treatment. If the patient was taking iron, the indicators will not reflect the true amount of the substance in the blood. You can conduct the study 7-10 days after the drug is withdrawn.
- Use special tubes, which are washed with distilled water. Dried in special cabinets.
- Bathophenanthralin acts as a reagent. He makes the method as accurate as possible.
- Blood is taken in the morning, when the level of iron is higher.
Women need to know that the accuracy of the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is affected by the menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives and pregnancy.
Diagnostic measures
A patient survey will be needed to identify the problem. After this, laboratory blood tests are performed. In some cases, a bone marrow puncture is prescribed, since the method is characterized by maximum information content. When it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease, examine feces for occult blood. With a positive result, a tumor is diagnosed, a peptic ulcer or Crohn's disease.
Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in adults takes place in the presence of several specialists. An endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, surgeon, gynecologist and oncologist are invited. They will help establish the true causes of the disease and prescribe effective therapy.
Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is based on determining the clinical picture and changing laboratory tests. With IDA, the hemoglobin content in the red blood cell decreases. With a norm of 27, the indicator is 20-23 pg. The zone of central enlightenment is different. It increases, which in the ratio gives the result not in the norm 1: 1, but 2: 1 or 3: 1.
Red blood cell size decreases, they become different shapes. If there is no blood loss, the number of leukocytes and reticulocytes remains. The number of siderocytes - red blood cells with granules of iron - is decreasing. Automated devices are used to enhance identification of quality checks.
Detection of the disease in babies
Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in children is carried out in the laboratory. Microscopic examination of blood is done to small patients. Signs are a low level of red blood cells and hemoglobin, hypochromia, the presence of red blood cells of different sizes. If the case is complex, do blood chemistry. Confirmation of the disease is a decrease in serum iron and transferrin.
After diagnosing iron deficiency anemia in children, nutritional adjustment is necessary. Severe and moderate degree involves diet therapy and drug treatment. With its help, iron reserves are restored. After birth, the baby receives iron only through nutrition, so it is believed that natural feeding, the timely introduction of juices helps maintain the required amount of the substance in the norm.
With breast feeding, the absorption of the beneficial substance is at the level of 70%, and with artificial feeding - no more than 10%. For children with anemia, complementary foods are introduced from the 5th month. The diet should be cereal and mashed potatoes with a high content of iron. From six months they introduce meat.
In newborns, a deficiency occurs if the pregnant mother had problems. Children are selected medications based on age. Doses can be small and medium - from 10 to 45 mg. Most often it is drops or syrup. Chewable tablets are prescribed for young children.
Researching
Patients are offered various methods for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia. An anamnesis is studied with clarification of the place of residence. The doctor is interested in a hobby, whether the patient is involved in sports. Whether fatigue and weakness are present, which medications are being taken. Nutrition is important, since anemia develops when there are no products in the diet that contain iron.
Women talk about the presence of abortion, how many births. It is important to indicate the regularity of menstruation. Are there blood loss from injuries, ulcers, fibroids. Are there any diseases of the stomach. To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, it is necessary to inform the specialist if there were sharp fluctuations in weight up or down. Indicate the presence of transferred infectious diseases. Some become brittle nails, hair turns gray at an early age. With 12 anemia, a burning sensation of the tongue occurs. In some patients, anemia occurs against the background of cholelithiasis, diseases of the excretory system.
The next method is a physical examination. Examine the skin, mucous membranes to highlight pigmentation and jaundice. Angiomas, bruises can be located on the surface. Enlarged lymph nodes indicate an inflammatory or malignant process. Checking the digestive tract occurs with palpation of the liver and spleen to determine their increase.
Differential diagnosis of B12 and iron deficiency anemia occurs with a blood test. The patient undergoes a general analysis, which is necessary to study all cells, determine their volume in the liquid part of the blood. Biochemical analysis allows you to evaluate the work of internal organs and body systems. Feces for occult blood will show the presence of bleeding in the digestive tract.
The specialist selects methods for determining the disease according to several criteria for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. In addition to examining, interviewing and taking tests, a lung x-ray, ultrasound, FSHD, colonoscopy and CT are prescribed.
Therapy
Clinical recommendations for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia include determining the causes of the development of the disease, correction, and learning the right way of life. They help to choose the right treatment, medication and route of administration. Monitor tolerance, evaluate the effectiveness of the action.
The main treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the development of the disease. If this is not possible due to nosebleeds, pregnancy, use iron therapy.
Allocate such drugs:
- "Hemofer Prolongatum". Drink the pill an hour before meals or two after it. The course of treatment is six months. Then normalize the level of iron and take the drug for another 3 months.
- Sorbifer Durules. Take half an hour before meals, washed down with water. Often prescribed to pregnant women. The duration of the course is determined by the dynamics.
- "Ferro-foilgamma". Take twice a day half an hour before meals. Therapy lasts 2-4 months, then studies are carried out. If necessary, increase the course.
All drugs are available at the pharmacy. They are taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor.
After establishing a clinic and diagnosing iron deficiency anemia, treatment begins immediately. Medicines are taken in various ways. The route of administration differs depending on the situation. Most often prescribed tablets. Intravenous and intramuscular preparations are administered in case of impaired absorption of iron by the intestines and in order to quickly replenish the supply of the substance. Injections will be needed for stomach ulcers, uterine fibroids, hemorrhoids.
When choosing a pill treatment, the minimum dose is 100 mg, the maximum is 300 mg. The purpose depends on the amount of iron deficiency in the body. Depletion, absorbability, tolerance matters. Do not drink tea, do not take with calcium, antibiotics.
The disease in patients of different ages
When the patient was prescribed the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia, side effects are monitored. The patient has nausea, constipation, a metallic taste in the mouth. Disorders occur with a decrease in the dose of the drug or after eating.
Depending on the growth rate of hemoglobin, the duration of therapy is determined. Pharmaceutical companies offer drugs that will help to lead a familiar lifestyle. Iron-containing complexes contain additional substances in the form of ascorbic acid, fructose and vitamins.
In teenage girls, problems arise with the appearance of menstrual blood loss. A tablet form with vitamins of groups A, B, C is selected. After recovery, additional courses are necessary for heavy monthly or minor blood loss.
In pregnant women, problems arise from the second trimester. Prescribe drugs with ascorbic acid. The daily dose does not exceed 100 mg. Treatment is carried out before childbirth in order to adjust the amount of the substance not only in the expectant mother, but also in the fetus. This continues for six months after the birth of the baby.
In women with menorrhagia, the therapy is long. Pills are selected taking into account tolerance. After normalization, medication continues for another week. Breaks in treatment are short, as the disease quickly depletes iron stores in the body.
In case of malabsorption, the drug is administered by injection intramuscularly or intravenously. Assign no more than 100 mg of the substance per day so that no adverse reactions occur. In older people, problems arise with chronic blood loss, protein deficiency. This also includes a tumor in the stomach, a combination of IDA and anemia B 12 .
If older people refuse to be examined, are in serious condition, prescribe a trial treatment in the form of iron salts. The correctness of treatment is monitored by checking the increase in reticulocytes a week after the start of the drug.
Disease lifestyle
Diet is important. It will help speed up the healing process. Choose foods rich in iron. The diet includes cereals, fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. The maximum amount of the substance is in rabbit meat, liver and beef meat. Of animal products, digestibility is 20%, of fruits - only 5-7%. The substance is well absorbed when consuming ascorbic and lactic acid.
Buckwheat and apples are considered real pantries. Tea and coffee should be discarded, since drinks interfere with the absorption of trace elements. Experts advise not only relying on proper nutrition, but every year to take a course of iron intake for three months. Women from 15 to 50 years old choose a dose of 30 to 60 mg per day - depending on age.
To eliminate anemia, general strengthening loads, physiotherapeutic procedures are necessary. A mandatory examination of the gastrointestinal tract. It is important to monitor the state of health, consult a doctor in a timely manner and take tests.
An approach to anemia is required adequate, since the condition can become dangerous, there will be a threat to the patient's life. You can get rid of the pathology when taking drugs. Be sure to find out the cause of bleeding, otherwise the drugs will be ineffective. Complications can be avoided if, during the course of treatment, take tests and monitor hemoglobin and changes in the body.