Free Iron Deficiency Anemia PowerPoint Presentation

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA): Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

1. What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
   IDA occurs when hemoglobin levels drop due to low iron, impairing the body’s ability to transport oxygen. It’s the most common nutritional anemia worldwide, affecting 25% of the population.
2. Essential Roles of Iron in the Body
   Iron is crucial for oxygen transport via hemoglobin, cellular energy production in mitochondria, and red blood cell formation. Low iron disrupts all three functions.
3. How Iron Is Absorbed and Distributed
   Iron is absorbed in the duodenum—heme from meat and non-heme from plants—then transported by transferrin and stored in ferritin. Most body iron is found in hemoglobin and the liver.
4. Who’s Most at Risk for IDA?
   High-risk groups include women of reproductive age, vegetarians, and children, especially during growth spurts or in cases of poor dietary intake.
5. Common Causes and Underlying Conditions
   IDA may result from inadequate dietary intake, increased demand (e.g., pregnancy), or gastrointestinal issues like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and colon cancer leading to blood loss or malabsorption.
6. Recognizing the Symptoms
   Fatigue, pale skin, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath are hallmark symptoms, all due to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues.
7. Potential Complications of Untreated IDA
   Without treatment, IDA can lead to heart failure, developmental delays in children, and pregnancy complications including preterm birth and low birth weight.
8. Diagnosing Iron Deficiency Anemia
   Lab tests include CBC (low Hb, MCV, MCH), serum ferritin (<30 ng/mL), iron studies (low transferrin saturation, high TIBC), and folate levels to exclude other causes.
9. Effective Treatment Strategies
   Oral iron supplements are first-line; IV iron is used when absorption is poor. Severe cases may require blood transfusions or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.
10. Preventing Iron Deficiency Anemia
    Prevent IDA with iron-rich foods (meat, beans, fortified cereals), vitamin C to boost absorption, and timely introduction of iron-rich foods in infants’ diets.