Prevention of Anaemia

By Kavya Liyanage

Why to Prevent?

About 25% of the total population affected world widely

Pregnant women, children mostly affected

Dietary Precautions

Consuming food rich in

Iron

Decreases the risk of iron deficiency anaemia

Vitamin B12

Decreases the risk of megaloblastic/ pernious anaemia

Folic acid Decreases the risk of megaloblastic/ pernious anaemia

Ascorbic acid

Increases iron absorption

Vegetarian food

•Milk, lentils, green leaves, beans, whole grains etc

Non-vegetarian

•Red meat, egg yolk etc

Cont.. Dietary Precautions

Not consuming caffeine just after

meals Eg- tea, coffee

Decreases ability of iron absorption

Parasite infestation

Reduces iron loss via parasite infestations

Deworming on a regular basis -

eg: Albendazole

Daily iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy WHO recommendations

Dose Iron: 30–60 mg of elemental ironFolic acid: 400 μg (0.4 mg)

Frequency One supplement daily

Duration Throughout pregnancy should begin as early as possible

Supplementation during Pregnancy

Pregnancy

Avoid repeated pregnancies less than 2 years

Avoid early teenage pregnancies

Early Childhood

Avoid introduction of inappropriate, non-fortified substitute of breast milk

Avoid too early and too late introduction of complementary food

Carrier screening

Partners belonging to ethnic groups at risk of being carriers

Pre-conceptionally or as early as possible in the pregnancy

Tests for screening

• Complete blood count

• Hb electrophoresis /Hb high performance liquid chromatography

• HbA2 and HbF quantitation

If at risk, genetic

counseling

• For thalassaemia and other haemaglobinopathies

Blood donations

Consecutive whole blood

donations once a two month

within a year, should not exceed 3l

Frequency depend on

individual basis

Premenopausal women not

often as men

Aplastic Anemia

Decrease the risk by avoiding exposure to

Insecticides HerbicidesOrganic solvents

Paint removers

Other toxic chemicals

Awareness Campaigns

• Public awareness

References

• Prevention and control of nutritional anaemias – South Asian priority – UNICEF organization

• Daily iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnant women – WHO organization

• WHO technical report series, No 540, 1994 Requirement for the collection, processing and quality control of the blood, blood components and plasma derivatives

• JOINT SOGC–CCMG CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE,No. 218, October 2008 - Carrier Screening for Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies in Canada

• Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine