Abstract
Despite some modest improvements described recently, anaemia remains a significant global public health concern affecting both developed and developing countries. It affects a quarter of the global population, including 293 million (47%) children who are younger than five years of age. A prevalence of 42% and 30% has been described in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively. Children and women of reproductive age are at high risk, partly because of physiological vulnerability, followed by the elderly. Africa and Asia are the most heavily affected regions, accounting for 85% of the absolute anaemia burden in highrisk groups. According to the World Health Organization global database on anaemia (1993–2005), this disorder was considered to be a moderate public health problem in South African preschool children, pregnant women and non-pregnant women of reproductive age. 
 
 There has been an increased awareness of anaemia and its consequences on the health and development of women and children in the past few decades. The many underlying causes of the various types of anaemia seen in general practice means it is essential that practitioners’ clinical decisions be underpinned by a sound knowledge of the pathological processes involved. Thorough history-taking will guide practitioners to request specific tests to confirm or refute differential diagnoses. Management must be developed around the specific type of anaemia and the potential physical and psychological effects it may have on the individual.
Highlights
Historical perspectiveThe ancients readily recognised the importance of blood as a lifegiving substance, believing it to hold the body's vital force
There has been an increased awareness of anaemia and its consequences on the health and development of women and children in the past few decades
The many underlying causes of the various types of anaemia seen in general practice means it is essential that practitioners’ clinical decisions be underpinned by a sound knowledge of the pathological processes involved
Summary
The ancients readily recognised the importance of blood as a lifegiving substance, believing it to hold the body's vital force. At the time of the publication of the first textbook of haematology by the French physician Gabriel Andral in 1843, there was no appreciation for the basic concept held today that clinical anaemia is due to inadequate numbers of RBCs.[2] Before this could be determined, it was necessary to develop a technical method by which blood cells could be counted. This was first done in 1852 by Karl Vierordt, but his technique was too tedious to gain widespread use. Almost two centuries passed after Swammerdam's discovery of red blood cells in 1658 before it was shown that a deficiency in the number of RBCs was the basis for the clinical diagnosis of anaemia
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