What is iron deficiency anemia?

Also known as: anemia

Anemia is a medical condition that occurs when the body’s blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells containing hemoglobin. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin allows the blood to carry oxygen, so a number of symptoms can arise when the blood doesn’t have enough of it. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia in children.


Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM

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