Anemia: its Prevalence, Causes, and Management

Sharourou, Afnan Shukri A; Hassan, Mohamed Ahmed; Teclebrhan, Mosay Berihu; Alsharif, Hesham Mohammed; Alamoudi, Ahmed Saeed; Alkhatem, Hawra Mustafa; Alhamad, Sukayna Adil; Alsinani, Tahani Saleem

Anemia: its Prevalence, Causes, and Management

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

² University of Medical Sciences and Technology

³ Kharkiv National Medical University

⁴ Taif University

⁵ King Abdulaziz University

⁶ Maternity and Child Hospital in Dammam

⁷ Primary Health Care Qatif

⁸ Batterjee Medical College

Abstract

Background: Nutritional anemia or anemia due to dietary causes is the most common form, yet the easiest to manage compared to other forms of anemia. Some of the most common nutritional deficiencies are iron, cobalamin, folate, and also other elements like copper. Anemia due to diet is mostly asymptomatic in the initial phase until the stores are depleted, which can take a few months to several years, depending upon the cause.
Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE from January 1987 to March 2017. The following search terms were used: nutritional anemia, dietary anemia, iron deficiency anemia, cobalamin deficiency, folic acid deficiency anemia, dietary anemia treatment
Aim of the work: In this study we aimed to understand about the different types of anemia caused as a result of dietary deficiency. We will also briefly study about their presentation, pathophysiology, and treatment.
Conclusion: Various causes, presentations, and complications are associated with different types of nutritional anemia, but they still are the easiest to treat and manage. Most cases are due to an underlying occult disorder rather than simple dietary insufficiency, making diagnosis more difficult in some cases, and requiring thorough history and investigations integration to reach an accurate diagnosis and treat the underlying cause.

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