PREVALENCE OF IRON DEFICIENCY IN WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE



Stephanie M. Stenseng
School of Science and Natural Resources
Lake Superior State University
Sault Sainte Marie  MI

ABSTRACT


Iron deficiency anemia is probably the most common chronic
disease of mankind.  It is estimated that at least 18
million people in the U.S. are iron deficient.  Shortness of
breath, weakness, fatigue, pasty skin, paleness of skin,
gums, nail beds, and eyelid linings, dizziness, fainting and
brittle nails are some of the more common symptoms of this
disease.  Pregnant women, lactating women, women of
childbearing age and children from birth to five years of
age are the groups most commonly at risk of iron deficiency.
In April of 1996, blood was drawn from twelve women of
childbearing age for tests to determine if iron deficiency
was still prevalent as a major factor of disease of this
risk group.  Hemoglobin and hematocrit tests were run at
Lake Superior State University.  These along with mean
corpuscular volume and red cell distribution width were run
using the Coulter counter at War Memorial Hospital in Sault
Sainte Marie, Mi.  Manual differentials were also looked at
to determine the patient1s morphology.  Due to the usage of
birth control pills, an increase in alcohol consumption, and
an iron-rich diet, the methods used to determine iron
deficiency show that the patient's indices are all within
the normal range and that iron deficiency is not prevalent
in the group of women of childbearing age that I have
studied.



Selected References

Harmening, D. M.  (1992).  Clinical Hematology and
Fundamentals of Hemostasis, second edition.
Philadelphia:	F.A. Davis Company.

Thomas, C. L., M.D., M.P.H.  (Ed.).  (1993).  Taber!s
Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 17th edition.
Philadelphia:	F.A. Davis Company.