Book of Medical Disorders in Pregnancy - Tintash

of the cells favores the reduction of the
intracellular ferric iron to the soluble
ferrous form and its direct diffusion out
of the mucosal cell into the blood.
Iron excretion: The excretion of iron
occurs in very minute amounts, chiefly
through the urine (0.4 mg daily) and
stools (0.8 mg daily). Excretion through
bile, desqua-mation of skin cells and
sweat is very minute. The average diet
contains quite excesses of iron. The
losses are also minimal in health
therefore iron deficiency states almost
never occur in the males. When there is
abnormal loss of blood or iron or
deficient diet is consumed for longer
periods. Anaemia may occur. In the
female the situation is quite different as
there can be excessive loss of menstrual
blood and the depletion of iron stores by
pregnancy and lactation.
Fig 1.2: Shows normal red blood
corpuscles
Clinical features: When iron deficiency
occurs, lassitude and exhaustion are
quite early manifestations. These result
due to failure of enzyme systems in the
body.
Presentation symptoms:
Often asymptomatic but fatigue, dyspnea
and Signs: of Pallor.
Can be present Investigations Hb