MICROCYTIC HYPOCHROMIC ANEMIA

Course overview

MICROCYTIC, HYPOCHROMIC ANEMIA, AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, IS THE TYPE OF ANEMIA IN WHICH THE CIRCULATING RBCS ARE SMALLER THAN THE USUAL SIZE OF RBCS (MICROCYTIC) AND HAVE DECREASED RED COLOR (HYPOCHROMIC). THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF ANEMIA IS DECREASED IRON RESERVES OF THE BODY WHICH MAY BE DUE TO MULTIPLE REASONS. THIS MAY BE DUE TO DECREASED IRON IN THE DIET, POOR ABSORPTION OF IRON FROM THE GUT, ACUTE AND CHRONIC BLOOD LOSS, INCREASED DEMAND OF IRON IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS LIKE PREGNANCY OR RECOVERING FROM MAJOR TRAUMA OR SURGERY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MICROCYTIC, HYPOCHROMIC ANEMIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS CONDITION.