Iron Deficiency Anemia Diagnosed in Female Teenagers

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common, worldwide problem with a prevalence of 9% in toddlers, 9-11% in adolescent girls, and less than 1% in teenager boys. Iron deficiency occurs in both developing and developed countries, making it the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. In response to this epidemic, the World Health Organization’s goal is to reduce anemia in women of reproductive age by 50% in addition to other targeted pediatric initiatives by 2025. IDA is most commonly seen in the following pediatric populations: infants fed cow’s milk, toddlers fed large volumes of cow’s milk, and menstruating teenage girls not receiving supplemental iron. The second peak of IDA seen in teenagers is primarily due to rapid growth often combined with poor dietary intake of iron. These contributors may be compounded by menstrual blood loss in adolescent females. Iron is an important component in the formation of hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells necessary for oxygen transport. Anemia develops as iron stores are depleted. Pediatric patients may deplete iron stores, without presenting with an anemia, which is consistent with iron deficiency. Because of this, hemoglobin alone is not an accurate indicator of iron deficiency anemia. With less iron available, erythropoiesis is affected. A low serum ferritin (in the absence of any concurrent inflammatory condition) is specific for iron deficiency and, coupled with low hemoglobin levels and abnormal red blood cell indices (low mean corpuscular volume [MCV], low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], and high red cell distribution width [RDW]), supports a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. *Corresponding author John Lazarchick, Medical University of South Carolina, 165 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA, Tel: 843792-3424, Email: