Publications

Although functional impairment begins with iron deficiency in the absence of anaemia, the development of anaemia heralds a homeostatic dysfunction that impairs daily activity. Iron deficiency anaemia is often the reason for poor physical performance, maternal and child morbidity and referral to a healthcare professional. (1) Women in their reproductive years, pregnant women and children are most vulnerable to develop iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and will be the focus of this review. Patients with iron deficiency present with symptoms attributable to anaemia resulting from decreased oxygen delivery to tissues and decreased oxidative capacity at the cellular level. These include fatigue, exertional dyspnea and/or palpitations, vertigo and syncope with the physical finding of pallor; none of which are specific to iron deficiency. Features that may occur more often in iron depleted states than in anaemia due to other causes are pica (craving for objects not considered appropriate as food, e.g., clay, soil, ice), restless leg syndrome, koilonychia, alopecia and the very rare Plummer Vinson syndrome (triad of esophageal webs, dysphagia and iron deficiency). Irrespective of the degree of anaemia, decreased productivity, defective immune function with susceptibility to infections