scholarly journals Iron-Deficiency Anemia Related to Ancylostoma duodenale Infection in 67 Years Old Female Patient

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 1455-1459
Author(s):  
Widodo Adi Prasetyo ◽  
Armen Ahmad

Background. Ancylostomiasis is an infection caused by hookworms. It is estimated that hookworms infect 1.2 billion people worldwide and cause higher morbidity than other types, mainly due to iron deficiency anemia. Hookworm infection increases with age. The main clinical manifestations are abdominal pain, features of iron deficiency anemia and hypoproteinemia. Diagnosis is based on the finding of characteristic eggs in the stool. Case presentation. A 67-year-old female patient had been administered into the Internal Medicine Ward of Dr. M. Djamil Padang Hospital with the main complaint of weakness, fatigue, and lethargy which had increased since 3 days before being admitted to the hospital. The patient also had complaints of pale skin, fever, heartburn, decreased appetite and weight loss. The patient was admitted to the hospital with awareness of compost mentis, cooperative, and his general condition appeared to be moderately ill, blood pressure 130/90 mmHg, pulse rate 104 x/minute, regular pulse, adequate filling, respiratory rate 22 x/minute, temperature 37.8 C. On physical examination, the conjunctiva of the pantient’s eyes were anemic. Laboratory examination revealed Hemoglobin 4 g/dl, Hematocrit 16%, MCV/MCH/MCHC 62fl/15pg/25g/dL, Reticulocytes 0.5%, SI/TIBC 22/315 mg/dL, Ferritin 8.5 ng/mL, and peripheral blood smear showing severe hypochromic microcytic anemia and relative eosinofilia. Ancylostoma duodenale worm eggs were found on routine stool examination. Final diagnosis was Severe microcytic hypochromic anemia caused by an iron deficiency and Ancylostomiasis. Severe microcytic hypochromic anemia caused by iron deficiency and ancylostomiasis was established based on the patient’s history, physical examination and laboratory investigations. Conclusions. Hookworms infect many people worldwide and cause high morbidity, mainly due to iron deficiency anemia. The highest prevalence is found in the tropics and subtropics, including Indonesia. The main clinical manifestations are abdominal pain, features of iron deficiency anemia and hypoproteinemia. Diagnosis is based on the finding of characteristic eggs in the stool. Albendazole 400 mg single dose resulted in 80% cure and a dose of 200 mg/day for 3 days gave 100% cure. Treatment of anemia is by administering ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate orally 200 mg three times a day and continued for up to 3 months after normal hemoglobin levels are achieved to maintain iron stores.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Leonid I. Dvoretsky ◽  
◽  
Alii Yu. Asanov ◽  
Kira S. Papko ◽  
Margarita P. Tuaeva ◽  
...  

Case study of female patient with hypochromic anemia, who has been treated with iron preparations for iron deficiency anemia for a long time, is reported. A hemoglobin electrophoresis test has been performed due to treatment failure, and β-thalassemia (thalassemia minor) has been diagnosed. The data on β-thalassemia and approaches to differential diagnosis of hypochromic anemias are summarized.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1964 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-121
Author(s):  
David H. Clement

Errors in the diagnosis and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia involve several areas. In the history one may overlook anemia in the mother, loss of infant blood from the placental circuit or later as melena, as well as a diet high in milk and low in iron-rich foods. In the physical examination pallor should not be estimated from facial color alone. In the laboratory a reticulocyte count should be determined before as well as during treatment. Regarding treatment it is important to give enough iron (6 mg/kg/day) for long enough to replenish iron stores. An effective, oral preparation of ferrous iron alone in gradually increasing doses is preferred. Failure to respond suggests several possibilities discussed above.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 932-935
Author(s):  
Joon Yau Leong ◽  
Margarita Gianniosis ◽  
Saman Zafar ◽  
Yan Zhang

Background: Pica is a poorly understood psychiatric disorder that presents with the ingestion of non-nutritious substances for unclear reasons. A high index of suspicion for unusual toxin exposure aids in the diagnosis of pica patients presenting with unexplained neurodegenerative features. Methods: We present a 47-year-old female with worsening gait over the past year. Prior to this, she was fully independent with activities of daily living, but is now mostly housebound due to frequent falls. Past medical history is significant for menorrhagia, iron deficiency anemia and pica. CBC and iron studies revealed iron deficiency with microcytic hypochromic anemia. MRI brain demonstrated symmetrical T2 hyperintensities within the middle cerebellar peduncles. Results: Differential diagnoses for her clinical deficits and imaging, including Spinocerebellar Ataxia, Multiple System At- rophy and Fragile X Tremor-Ataxia Syndrome, were excluded based on neurological assessment, family history and genetic PCR testing. Collateral history revealed a regular habit of mothball ingestion and serum paradichlorobenzene levels were elevated to 15mcg/mL. The patient was treated with iron replacement therapy and her symptoms gradually improved over several months. Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia is commonly associated with pica, which can lead to toxin ingestion. A high index of suspicion for toxin ingestion in pica patients can immensely aid in the diagnosis. Mothball abuse secondary to pica may affect the CNS and can present with nonspecific neurodegenerative changes. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases in the literature with paradichlorobenzene neurotoxicity predominantly affecting the middle cerebellar peduncles. Keywords: Mothball; paradichlorobenzene; PDCB; toxicity; pica; middle cerebellar peduncles.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaşar Doğan ◽  
Tülay Erkan ◽  
Zerrin Önal ◽  
Merve Usta ◽  
Gülen Doğusoy ◽  
...  

Aim. To determine gastric tissue lactoferrin (Lf) levels ofHelicobacter pylori-(Hp-) positive and -negative patients and its effect on anemia.Methods. Cases in which initial presentation was of abdominal pain and that were Hp-positive at endoscopy were included. Hp-positive cases and -negative controls were divided into two groups.Results. The study included 64 cases (average: years, 39 male and 25 female). Lf levels were subsequently studied on 61 cases. 45 (73.8%) of these were Hp-positive, while 16 (22.2%) were Hp-negative. In Hp-positive cases, mean staining percentages and density of glands in the antral mucosa were % and , respectively. Hp-negative cases showed significantly different values of % and , respectively. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin values of Hp-positive cases were /dL and /mL, but these were comparable with Hp-negative cases (/dL and /mL).Conclusions.Tissue Lf was significantly higher in Hp-positive cases compared to Hp-negative cases, but no difference was observed between the two groups with regards to hemoglobin and ferritin level. As a result, it is difficult to say that this rise in Lf plays a role in the development of iron deficiency anemia in Hp-positive patients.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 909-910
Author(s):  
MARK S. DINE

To the Editor.— We are indebted to Oski et al1 and to the 38 children who received injections of iron dextran for demonstrating the importance of determining not only which children had iron deficiency anemia but also those with iron deficiency without anemia. However, the primary physician needs a screening test that is efficient and not costly. Unfortunately, the history and physical examination are not effective screens for the identification of children at risk—with the exception of those children drinking in excess of one quart of milk a day.2


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