Iron deficiency anaemia is a widespread and often underdiagnosed condition. It happens when the body lacks enough iron to produce adequate haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the vital protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When iron is low, red blood cells become smaller and less efficient. This lowers the oxygen supply to tissues. As a result, people experience symptoms like chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pale skin. If left untreated or severe, iron deficiency anaemia can harm brain function, reduce physical performance, and raise the risk of serious health problems.
Worldwide, iron deficiency is the leading cause of anaemia. It affects over two billion people — about 25% of the global population. The condition mostly affects women of childbearing age, infants, children, adolescents, and people living in low-income or resource-limited areas. These groups need more iron due to menstruation, growth, pregnancy, or chronic illnesses. Although iron deficiency anaemia is more common in developing countries due to poor nutrition and infections, it also occurs in developed nations. There, poor diets, chronic diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders are often to blame.
What makes iron deficiency anaemia especially concerning is its silent start. Many people do not realise they have low iron until symptoms become severe or a blood test reveals it. Even when symptoms appear, they can be mistaken for stress, tiredness, or other health issues. This delay in diagnosis can cause long-term damage that early treatment could prevent. Physical symptoms often come with mental and emotional changes such as trouble concentrating, irritability, and depression. These can greatly lower quality of life.
The causes of iron deficiency anaemia are many. They include low dietary iron, chronic blood loss, malabsorption problems, and higher body iron needs. We will explore these causes in detail in the next section. It is important to know that treating anaemia alone is not enough. The root cause must be found and managed to prevent it from returning. This is critical when anaemia signals a more serious disease like gastrointestinal bleeding or cancer.
Doctors diagnose iron deficiency anaemia using blood tests. These measure haemoglobin, iron stores (ferritin), total iron-binding capacity, and serum iron. Sometimes, stool tests, endoscopies, or imaging are needed to find the cause of iron loss or absorption problems. Early and accurate diagnosis helps create a treatment plan tailored to each patient.
Treatment usually involves raising iron levels through diet or supplements. In severe cases, intravenous iron or blood transfusions may be needed. Treatment plans differ depending on age, gender, medical history, and other health conditions. For example, a young woman with heavy periods may also need gynaecological care, while an older man with bleeding in the gut might need an endoscopy.
Prevention is just as important. Public health actions like iron-fortified foods, regular screening for high-risk groups, and education on iron-rich diets can reduce how often this condition occurs. Iron supplements are key in children and pregnant women to prevent deficiency.
Iron deficiency anaemia affects more than just blood. It can weaken the immune system, slow wound healing, stunt growth in children, and cause pregnancy complications. It can worsen other health problems, lower work productivity, and raise healthcare costs. Still, it is one of the easiest types of anaemia to prevent and treat if caught early and managed well.
This guide covers all you need to know about iron deficiency anaemia. We start with its causes and move through symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and outlook. Each section aims to help the public and healthcare professionals improve awareness, speed up diagnosis, and achieve better health outcomes.
