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Iron deficiency anemia - Symptom
Alternative Names
Anemia - iron deficiency
Symptoms:
- Pale skin color
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Sore tongue
- Brittle nails
- Unusual food cravings (called pica)
- Decreased appetite (especially in children)
- Headache - frontal
- Blue tinge to sclerae (whites of eyes)
Signs and tests:
- Low hematocrit and hemoglobin (red blood cell measures)
- Small red blood cells
- Low serum ferritin
- Low serum iron level
- High iron binding capacity (TIBC) in the blood
- Blood in stool (visible or microscopic)
- Reviewed last on: 8/28/2007
- A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCP(C), Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (9/11/2006).
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