Iron Deficiency Anemia: Etiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Approaches

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health problem that affects about 1.24 billion people around the world, mostly children and women of childbearing age. IDA happens when the body doesn't get enough iron, loses too much iron, or can't absorb it properly. This makes erythropoiesis, cellular metabolism, and immune function worse. The World Health Organization says that 40% of women who are pregnant and 32.5% of women who are not pregnant have anemia. People with IDA often feel tired, weak, pale, and have trouble thinking clearly. Lab tests, such as hemoglobin, blood ferritin, and transferrin saturation, are used to make the diagnosis. You can treat the condition in two ways: by taking iron supplements by mouth, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous fumarate; or, for serious cases, by giving iron through an IV. Strategies for prevention depend on increasing the amount of iron you get from food, making it more bioavailable, and keeping infections under control. Food addition and fortification programs have been shown to help lower the number of people with IDA. However, problems still exist, especially in areas with poor economies. Recent advance in acknowledging how iron is used and controlled has implications for creating targeted therapeutic approaches. A key regulator of iron balance, hepcidin, is a key player in the pathophysiology of IDA. This review shows how complicated IDA is and how important it is to have treatment plans that consider underlying causes, dietary factors, and socioeconomic factors. Keywords: Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), Erythropoiesis, Hemoglobin, Nutritional Deficiencies, Neurological Disorders, Iron Supplements.