| Disease |
ANAEMIAS-IRON DEFICIENCY |
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| Quotation |
“ An ailing woman lasts forever” |
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| Definition |
The commonest type of anaemia caused by decreased iron stores, and charecterised by smaller RBCs (microcytic), carrying less hemoglobin. (hypo chromic) |
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| Prognosis |
Excellent with iron therapy provided the underlying cause is discovered and treated. |
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| General Measures |
Locating the bleeding site and implementing appropriate therapy is paramount.Patients with low cardiac output, hypoxaemia, or angina would have to be advised lower physical activity.Diet with more protein and iron containing foods like beans, leafy green vegetable and meat.No tetracycline, milk or milk – products to be taken within two hours of taking oral iron. |
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| Advice to Patient |
Iron tablets darken stool, and may discolour urine.As under General measures. |
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| Follow Up |
Regularly after return to normalcy to ensure non- recurrence. |
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| Inadequate Response |
Rule out continuing bleed, usually in G.I. Tract.Investigate for bone-marrow depression.Look for mixed anaemias. |
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| Prevention |
Periodic de-worming against hook worms.Ensuring adequate iron intake in diet.Correction of cause in bleeding states. |
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| Reference From |
www.care.org/publications/anemia/intro.asp |
