How would you evaluate the effectiveness of iron therapy for iron deficiency anaemia?
• Laboratory blood tests should be evaluated including haemoglobin, haematocrit, full blood examination and iron levels. • Evaluate neurological manifestations of anaemia such as tingling toes or fingers. • Evaluate the presence of pallor, fatigue and lethargy which are common manifestations of iron deficiency anaemia. • Nicole Jansen, 22 years of age, is five weeks pregnant with her first child. She is concerned about becoming anaemic during pregnancy, but does not want to take iron supplements unless she has to. What advice can you give her about non-pharmacological means of managing this situation? You can advise eating rich dietary sources of iron such as red meats, legumes, nuts, dried fruits, green and leafy vegetables and whole grains. However, if she becomes anaemic even after constructing an iron-rich diet, she would be well-advised to try an iron supplement. • Oral iron formulations should not be administered with tetracycline antibiotics. Explain the mechanism underlying thi
