Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic indications for iron supplementation as follows:
Nutritional support
- Nutritional demand for iron and blood volume increase significantly in pregnant women, to support the pregnancy.
- Often women find it difficult to cover for this increased demand and present with symptoms of iron deficiency, which can complicate the pregnancy.
- Iron supplementation in such individuals can contribute towards the additional demand and avoid complications during pregnancy.
Blood loss
- Women in the menstruating age-group often present with iron deficiency and symptoms of anemia, secondary to monthly menstrual blood loss.
- Also, individuals with history of chronic H. pylori infections and bleeding gastric ulcers, present with iron deficiency due to blood loss. Individuals with poorly managed hemorrhoids can also present with iron deficiency, secondary to recurrent episodes of bleeding from hemorrhoids.
- Individuals with history of some bleeding cancers can also present with iron deficiency and anemia, secondary to recurrent episodes of bleeding from cancers.
- Iron supplementation in such individuals can cover for the blood loss and help prevent symptoms of anemia.
