Symptoms and pathological hazards of iron deficiency anemia

There are many types of anemia, and iron deficiency anemia is the most common. 90% of the anemia we mention in daily life is iron deficiency anemia. So what are the pathological process and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia?

1. The pathophysiological process of iron deficiency anemia includes three stages:

(1) Iron depletion (ID): During this stage, the body's iron reserves have decreased, but the iron available for red blood cells to synthesize hemoglobin has not yet decreased.

(2) Iron deficiency period of erythropoiesis (IDE): During this period, the stored iron is further depleted and the iron required for erythropoiesis is also insufficient, but the amount of hemoglobin in the circulation has not yet decreased.

(3) Iron deficiency anemia (IDA): During this stage, microcytic hypochromic anemia and some non-hematopoietic system symptoms appear.

2. Clinical manifestations

The disease can occur at any age, but is most common between 6 months and 2 years old. The onset is slow and the time of onset is often uncertain. Many children are diagnosed with the disease when they seek medical treatment for other diseases. The clinical manifestations vary depending on the severity of the disease.

(1) General manifestations: The skin and mucous membranes gradually become pale, most obviously on the lips, oral mucosa and nail beds. Easy to get tired and weak, not active. Older children may complain of dizziness, black spots in front of their eyes, tinnitus, etc.

(2) Extramedullary hematopoiesis: Due to the extramedullary hematopoietic reaction, the liver and spleen may be slightly enlarged. The younger the age, the longer the course of disease, and the more severe the anemia, the more obvious the enlargement of the liver and spleen.

(3) Non-hematopoietic system symptoms

1) Digestive system symptoms: loss of appetite. A few people may have pica, such as eating soil, wall paint, coal slag, etc. There may be vomiting and diarrhea. Stomatitis, glossitis, or atrophy of the lingual papillae may occur. In severe cases, atrophic gastritis or malabsorption syndrome may occur.

2) Neurological symptoms: manifested as irritability or listlessness. Older children often have difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and their intelligence is often lower than that of children of the same age.

3) Symptoms of the cardiovascular system: When anemia is obvious, the heart rate increases. In severe cases, the heart enlarges and even heart failure may occur.

4) Other manifestations: Due to low cellular immune function, infection is often present. Fingernails and toenails may develop ingrown toenails due to abnormal epithelial tissue.