Iron Deficiency in Primary Care
McCartney D.
Iron deficiency is common and frequently encountered in primary care, either with or without anaemia. It is an under-recognised disease but with debilitating symptoms. It can be easily diagnosed and managed once identified. This chapter discusses the recognition of iron deficiency in primary care, describing the wide-ranging symptoms, outlines some important and common causes of iron deficiency, and suggests an approach to investigation based on age. The options for treatment and prevention are briefly reviewed.