Reduced hemoglobin concentration in erythrocytes often arises due to iron deficiency. Such a condition can be temporary, for example, when carrying a child or violating a full-fledged diet, and do not pose a threat. The long course of the pathology leads to the development of iron deficiency anemia - the symptoms of the disease in the early stages are almost invisible, which makes it difficult to diagnose it.
Symptoms and signs of iron deficiency anemia in adults
Lack of the micronutrient in the body passes through 2 stages: latent and explicit.
In the latent period, the hemoglobin causing iron deficiency anemia is greatly reduced, but the tissues are not damaged yet. The main clinical manifestations may be absent or occur so rarely that the patient does not pay attention to them. Primary symptoms:
- decrease in concentration, efficiency, attention;
- weakness, fatigue;
- noise in the ears , sometimes - auditory hallucinations;
- frequent syncope;
- dizziness, combined with nausea;
- increased respiration and palpitations;
- flashing spots, dots before the eyes;
- obscuration of consciousness, loss of orientation in space;
- the inability to perform even ordinary housework, daily loads cause strong attacks of weakness;
- perversion of taste preferences (desire is chalk, earth, hair, sand, sometimes - metal objects);
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome (sensation that there is a foreign body in the throat and respiratory tract);
- dry tongue or tingling;
- violation of the swallowing reflex, especially when eating solid or dry foods.
Signs of overt iron deficiency anemia with sideropenia (tissue deficiency of microelement):
- lesions of the skin and mucous membranes lining the surface of internal organs;
- ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract;
- tooth decay;
- dryness, cracking in the corners of the lips;
- aching, dull pain in the upper abdomen;
- burning in the tongue;
- sideropenic glossitis;
- dry hands, shins with the appearance of numerous microcracks;
- hair loss , their fragility;
- the appearance of premature graying;
- curvature of nails, fragility;
- perversion of smell;
- betalepsia;
- deterioration in the functioning of sphincters.
Blood tests for iron deficiency anemia
First of all, it is necessary to make a clinical study of the biological fluid. The analysis records:
- level of hemoglobin;
- erythrocyte concentration;
- average volume and content of red blood cells;
- color index;
- availability and quantity of iron.
In addition, detailed laboratory diagnostics of iron deficiency anemia is performed by counting normochromic, hyperchromic, hypochromic erythrocytes and polychromatophiles, as well as their anisochromia.
It is worth noting that in order to establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to differentiate the true iron deficiency from other diseases,
- The level of iron in the serum can remain close to normal with a reduced concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
- The total iron binding capacity of the serum remains within the required values.
- The concentration of ferritin in the blood serum is increased, which excludes glandular starvation of tissues.
Such results often accompany inflammatory processes, tuberculosis, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, oncological pathologies, hepatological diseases.