Question

Based on the laboratory data and assessment findings, the health

care provider diagnoses D.G. with iron deficiency anemia. What
clinical manifestations of iron deficiency anemia does D.G.
have?

Answer 1

D.G. likely exhibits signs of general weakness, poor concentration, and shortness of breath with activity due to iron deficiency anemia. Pale skin, dullness, and poor appetite are also potential manifestations. Oral iron therapy is a common treatment for this condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the data provided, D.G. likely has clinical manifestations of iron deficiency anemia which include symptoms such as general weakness or fatigue, especially during exercise, poor concentration, and shortness of breath with activity. D.G. may also present with pallor of the skin, dullness and inactivity, and poor appetite as noted in weaned infants and young children with hemoglobin levels of 5 to 9 g/100 ml. Important to note, iron deficiency can lead to reduced production of heme, a component essential for oxygen transport in the blood, thereby exacerbating these symptoms.

Treatment typically involves oral iron therapy with preparations such as ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate, with other forms of iron administration available for different cases. In healthy adult males and postmenopausal women, dietary iron requirements are generally negligible unless there is an underlying deficiency or loss of iron, often due to malabsorption from the gastrointestinal tract or chronic bleeding. Moreover, a defect in hemoglobin synthesis leading to anemia can be associated with copper deficiency as well.