Iron deficiency anemia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Jogeet Singh Sekhon, M.D. [2]

Overview

Patients with iron deficiency anemia may appear normal in some cases but usually if anemia is moderate or severe, the patient would appear pale. All organ systems can be involved by the effects of anemia.

Physical Examination

Appearance of the patient

Patients with iron deficiency anemia usually appear pale^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4].

Vital signs

Tachycardia

HEENT

Blue-tinged or very pale whites of eyes.
Angular stomatitis
Cheilosis
Glossitis
Alopecia

Skin

Pale skin color (pallor)
Dry and rough skin

Lungs

Tachypnea

Heart

Tachycardia
Systolic flow murmur

Abdomen

Splenomegaly
Esophageal webs

Extremities

Brittle nails
Koilonychia(spoon shaped nails)

References

↑ Camaschella C (2015). “Iron-deficiency anemia”. N Engl J Med. 372 (19): 1832–43. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1401038. PMID 25946282.
↑ Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall IC, Peyrin-Biroulet L (2016). “Iron deficiency anaemia”. Lancet. 387 (10021): 907–16. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60865-0. PMID 26314490.
↑ Khadem G, Scott IA, Klein K (2012). “Evaluation of iron deficiency anaemia in tertiary hospital settings: room for improvement?”. Intern Med J. 42 (6): 658–64. doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02724.x. PMID 22288902.
↑ Camaschella C (2015). “Iron deficiency: new insights into diagnosis and treatment”. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2015: 8–13. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2015.1.8. PMID 26637694.

Template:WH Template:WS

[pmid25946282-1] Camaschella C (2015). “Iron-deficiency anemia”. N Engl J Med. 372 (19): 1832–43. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1401038. PMID 25946282.

[pmid26314490-2] Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall IC, Peyrin-Biroulet L (2016). “Iron deficiency anaemia”. Lancet. 387 (10021): 907–16. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60865-0. PMID 26314490.

[pmid22288902-3] Khadem G, Scott IA, Klein K (2012). “Evaluation of iron deficiency anaemia in tertiary hospital settings: room for improvement?”. Intern Med J. 42 (6): 658–64. doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02724.x. PMID 22288902.

[pmid26637694-4] Camaschella C (2015). “Iron deficiency: new insights into diagnosis and treatment”. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2015: 8–13. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2015.1.8. PMID 26637694.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]