What is Anemia ?

Decrease in the oxygen carrying capacity of blood is known as Anemia. This is due to a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) in the blood. It may be due to decreased production or increased destruction of the red blood cells. Decrease in hemoglobin concentration by more than 10% below the average value denotes anemia.

What are the causes of Iron deficiency Anemia?

Iron deficiency is very common in Indians particularly in children and pregnant women. The main causes of Iron deficiency anemia are:

• Dietary deficiency of iron.

• Increased demand of iron, and other nutrients necessary for proper absorption of iron, during pregnancy, lactation and menstrual blood loss in women. Growing children too have an increased need for iron.

• Chronic blood loss due to heavy menstrual bleeding in women, bleeding disorders of gastrointestinal tract, worm infestations and surgical procedures.

• Chronic diarrhea and dysentery are other common conditions among Indians, when there is an excessive loss of blood from the body.

• Increased destruction of RBCs in hemolytic disorders e.g. thalassaemia.

• Reduced production of RBCs due to improper functioning of the bone marrow.

What is the treatment for iron deficiency anemia?

The treatment of iron deficiency anemia will be done by treating the cause of the anemia as well as by providing iron supplements. Once the blood loss or the cause of the anemia has been treated, iron tablets could rapidly reverse the anemia. These tablets could irritate the stomach and should be preferably taken after food. Iron tablets could color the stools black and cause constipation or diarrhea.

Tips to avoid anemia

• A nutritious and varied diet should be taken.

• Liver, whole meal bread, cereals, eggs and dried fruit are rich in iron.

• Loss of blood in the stools or urine, or heavy menstrual bleeding should prompt a person to seek immediate medical advice.

• During pregnancy, the expectant mother should consult the doctor as to when and how to take the iron supplements.

• Daily iron requirements in pregnancy are about three times higher than normal.

• Some iron is conserved during pregnancy, but there is an increased requirement by the fetus and due to loss of blood during delivery.

• Iron is also present in breast milk, which increases the requirement of iron in lactating mothers.
   

Achievements

Through IFA Programme Pregnant and Lactating, mothers are given IFA (Iron and Folic acid) tablets to strengthen the women at the early stage of the pregnancy. It has been introduced this time with Vitamin 'A'. Therefore, IFA tablets were distributed to all the pregnant and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centers during the round scheduled in April 06. The reports have been procured from all the districts stating that 42022889 numbers of women received the IFA tablets and 65044226 number tablets were distributed among them.