Anemia: A Prevalent Problem  share page  Share this with your
friends  Anemia: A Prevalent Problem  Many Americans are anemic.
More specifically, iron deficient - the most common form of
anemia. Its prevalence is less than 1% in males and 12-25% in
females. Most of the iron deficiency anemia in women is in
pregnant, post-partum or menorrhagic (excessive loss) types.
Etiology or cause is inadequate iron intake from dietary sources
or malabsorption. It is commonly a result of excessive menstrual
bleeding, peptic ulcer hemorrhage or prolonged bleeding in any
part of the G.I. tract. It also occurs when iron demand in the
body exceeds supply, especially pregnancy, lactation and
infancy.  Symptoms associated with moderate to severe iron
deficiency anemia are pallor of the skin, buccal-pharyngeal
mucosa, lips, ear lobes and nail beds, muscle weakness, easily
fatigued, headache, and vertigo. These are non-specific symptoms
of any type of severe anemia. Children with anemia develop pica,
a desire for ingestion of str