Abstract
This research aimed at identifying the relationship of iron-deficiency anemia caused by insufficient dietary intake and the iron-deficiency anemia caused by parasitic worms such as hookworms. Whole blood was drawn from 40 specimens; 20 males and 20 females, normal healthy controls with age ranges 8-50 year. Blood samples were collected from 80 patients with symptoms of anemia, with age range from 10-50 year. After fecal examination, they were divided into two groups: Group one, iron-deficiency anemia with non-parasitic; and group two, iron-deficiency anemia with parasitic. Blood samples were divided into two container, one for the hemoglobin, other for serum ferritin and elements of iron, zinc in tubes without anticoagulants. Results demonstrated a significant decrease in the levels of serum iron, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin in male and female patients (in group one without parasitic worms) as compared with control groups. Furthermore (in two groups with and without parasitic worms), a significant decrease in the level of serum zinc in male and female patients as compared with control group. A significant decrease in the levels of serum iron, ferritin and hemoglobin were observed in male and female patients with iron-deficiency anemia caused by parasitic hookworms compared with control group. The worm burden was classified as light, moderate and heavy as estimated by egg counts per gram of faeces, so results showed the median increase with developing of iron deficiency anemia from parasitic hookworms.
Highlights
Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common anemia, low red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin levels (Hb) caused by insufficient dietary intake and absorption of iron, and/or iron loss from bleeding which can originate from a range of sources such as the intestinal, uterine or urinary tract (1)
Another blood samples were collected from 80 patients with symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia from East-Baghdad, these samples were divided into the following diagnostic categories: Group one: 40 patients 19 males and 21 females, age ranged from 10-50 year with iron-deficiency anemia from nonparasitic worms, characterized by symptoms with iron-deficiency anemia like constipation, tinnitus, sleepiness and hair loss
A sufficiently low hemoglobin (Hb) by definition makes the diagnosis of anemia, if the anemia is due to iron deficiency, one of the first abnormal values to be noted on a complete blood count (CBC), as the body's iron stores begin to be depleted (16).The blood smear of a patient with iron deficiency shows many hypochromic and rather small RBCs (17)
Summary
Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common anemia, low red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin levels (Hb) caused by insufficient dietary intake and absorption of iron, and/or iron loss from bleeding which can originate from a range of sources such as the intestinal, uterine or urinary tract (1). Anemia can result when the body does not make enough red blood cells and bleeding causes loss of red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced. The most significant cause of irondeficiency anemia in developing world patients is parasitic hookworms, worms cause intestinal bleeding, which is not always noticeable in faeces (2). A diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia requires further investigation as to its cause. It can be caused by increased iron demand/loss or decreased iron intake (4). Increases in content of antagonistic to iron trace elements such as zinc and calcium, which impair iron absorption or its physiological impact, can lead to development of IDA (6)
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