Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Clinical presentation of iron deficency:
- anaemia
- koilonychia
- angular stomatitis
- aphthous ulcers
- brittle hair, nails
More unusual syndromes associated with iron deficiency:
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome (Patterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome)
(oesophageal web, Fe deficiency anaemia, glossitis, angular stomatitis)
- Restless legs syndrome
- Pica (irresistable desire to eat things no generally considered food: ice cubes, clay, etc.)
- Generalised pruritis
Investigations: FBC, serum ferritin, (bone marrow and Perls' rxn).
ΔΔx (for microcytic hypochromic anaemia) anaemia of chronic disease,
thalassaemia, sideroblastic anaemia, lead poisoning.