Iron deficiency anaemia-Causes

It is the most common cause of decrease in hemoglobin world wide.

Causes:

        1.Increased demand for iron and/or hematopoiesis

                  -rapid growth in infancy or adolescence

                  -pregnancy

                  -erythropoietin therapy

        2.Increased iron loss

                  -chronic blood loss

                  -menses

                  -acute blood loss

                  -blood donation

                  -phlebotomy as treatment for polycythemia vera

        3.Decreased iron intake or absorption

                  -inadequate diet

                 -malabsorption from disease (sprue, Crohn's disease)

                 -malabsorption from surgery (post-gastrectomy)

                 -acute or chronic inflammation