Mirza Ikram, Ali Baig.
Iron deficiency anemia: Evaluation & management in primary care.
Med Today Jan ;2(2):45-51.

Anemia affects two thirds of Pakistani children below five years of age, 32-51% of our rural and 38-47% of urban women respectively. Infants with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) demonstrate poor mental and motor coordination and there is no functional improvement in school age despite complete correction of iron deficiency they had in infancy. In adults iron deficiency anemia results in reduced work capacity contributing to economic consequences for the individual as well as for the nation. Nutritional deficiency is the most common cause of iron deficiency in infants and children in Pakistan. Evaluation of an anemic patient is based on a detailed history supported by physical examination. In adults, systemic conditions causing blood loss should be excluded. Hemoglobin and hematocrit level with red cell indices and peripheral smear will give clue to the morphological type and possible cause of anemia in most of the patients. Mentzer`s formula and Discriminant Function are calculation based methods to differentiate between iron deficiency and hemolytic causes of anemia which do not require any extra cost and may save additional investigations. Management includes diet rich in Iron and iron supplements.

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