Tania Douglas is a 36-year-old attorney living in Miami. Dolores is in the second trimester of pregnancy with her first child, and though her pregnancy had been progressing normally
EXPERT ANSWER AND EXPLANATION
Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
Definition and Etiology
Camaschella (2017) posits that this is a disorder of the hematological system that results from inadequate iron supply to the bone marrow, with resultant impaired production of red blood cells along with deficient hemoglobinization. The resultant cells are therefore described as being microcytic and hypochromic, on the basis of the red blood cell indices as will be elucidated later. Notably, the extent of hypochromia and microcytosis corresponds to the chronicity and severity of the disease.
Four major mechanisms, according to Hoffbrand & Moss (2015), are postulated to bear implications in the etiology, pathogenesis and subsequent course of iron deficiency anemia. This includes inadequate dietary intake of iron, impaired absorption of iron, increased losses and enhanced demand. Illnesses and socioeconomic factors contribute to inadequate feeding and thus deficiency while 8malabsorption is usually secondary to small bowel disorders and/or extensive bowel surgeries. Hemorrhage contributes to significant iron losses, while pregnancy is one of the states of increased demand (Hoffbrand & Moss, 2015).
Diagnostics
While the diagnosis of anemia is commonly made clinically, assessment of the specific type of anemia as well as severity needs laboratory diagnosis (Wu, Lesperance & Bernstein, 2016). As part of the initial diagnosis, performing complete blood count (CBC), bone marrow aspiration and iron studies.
CBC provides information on the red cell indices and the state of other blood cell lines, which is important in knowing whether it is a pancytopenic process. Iron studies involves doing serum iron levels, serum ferritin and transferrin. The former is usually low while the remaining two are usually elevated (Wu, Lesperance & Bernstein, 2016). Bone marrow aspiration aids in gauging the marrow response to the anemia as well as assessing iron stores. Further tests to be done regarding etiology include stool culture and endoscopic procedures.
Significance of Red Blood Cell Indices
Red blood cell indices, as a component of complete blood count, provides a fast, easy to do laboratory technique of assessing the severity of anemia as well as (Wu, Lesperance & Bernstein, 2016). Iron deficiency anemia is associated with characteristic changes in the red cell morphology, size, hemoglobin content and number, and this is manifested in the indices as microcytosis, hypochromia and reduced absolute numbers of red cells.
Treatment and Prevention
According to Cantor et al. (2015) prevention of the disorder involves observance of hygienic dietary practices such as washing foods well enough as well periodic deworming of the at risk groups, feeding practices which should also revolve around iron rich foods such as spinach and meat and for pregnant women, IFAS should be provided and taken as prescribed.
Therapy varies depending on severity, where oral iron supplementation is provided for mild to moderate cases in form of ferrous sulphate or gluconate, whereas parenteral iron is given for acute severe cases. In even more demanding scenarios, transfusion is recommended (Cantor et al., 2015).
Patient Education
IDA is the most prevalent anemia and educating the masses is an integral part of ensuring control and proper management of the disorder (DeLoughery, 2017). Measures patients should be taught include:
- Encouraging deworming for under 5 year old children as well as at risk adults.
- Healthy feeding practices involving eating iron rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.
- Prompt treatment and prevention of malaria in pregnancy in endemic areas.
- Advising taking of IFAS by pregnant women as prescribed by the practitioner.
References
Camaschella, C. (2017). New insights into iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Blood reviews, 31(4), 225-233.
Cantor, A. G., Bougatsos, C., Dana, T., Blazina, I., & McDonagh, M. (2015). Routine iron supplementation and screening for iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Annals of internal medicine, 162(8), 566-576.
DeLoughery, T. G. (2017). Iron deficiency anemia. Medical Clinics, 101(2), 319-332.
Hoffbrand, A. V., & Moss, P. A. (2015). Hoffbrand’s essential haematology (Vol. 38). John Wiley & Sons.
Wu, A. C., Lesperance, L., & Bernstein, H. (2016). Screening for iron deficiency. Policy Statement, 23, 171-177.
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