Anemia, Iron Deficiency, and Iron Deficiency Anemia

Anemia is one of the most widespread public health problems, especially in developing countries, and has important health and welfare, social, and economic consequences. These include impaired cognitive development, reduced physical work capacity, and in severe cases increased risk of mortality, particularly during the perinatal period. There is also evidence that anemia may result in reduced growth and increased morbidity. Given the magnitude of the problem, greater efforts are needed to develop and implement programs both to prevent and to control anemia. In program development, it is essential to understand the differences between anemia, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia, and to recognize that anemia can result both from nutrition-related causes and from inflammatory/infectious disease, as well as from blood loss. Anemia can result from nutritionrelated causes, in particular iron deficiency, from inflammatory/ infectious disease, and from blood loss.