Treatment for anemia
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WHO anaemia treatment iron deficiency anemia guidance adults children pregnancy
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anemia treatment
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Anemia is not one disease, so treatment depends on the cause and severity. A clinician should confirm it with a complete blood count, reticulocyte count, and usually iron studies, vitamin B12 and folate testing, plus evaluation for blood loss when appropriate.
- Iron-deficiency anemia: Treat the cause of iron loss, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, inadequate dietary iron, or pregnancy. Oral iron is commonly used; intravenous iron may be needed when oral iron is not tolerated, absorbed poorly, or anemia is severe. Dietary iron can help but generally does not replace prescribed treatment. WHO anemia guidance notes iron deficiency is a leading cause and highlights iron and folate interventions.
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency: Replace the missing vitamin and identify why it developed. Do not take folic acid alone if B12 deficiency is possible, since it can mask anemia while nerve injury progresses.
- Anemia from chronic kidney disease: Treat iron deficiency if present and, in selected patients, use erythropoiesis-stimulating treatment under renal/medical supervision.
- Anemia due to chronic inflammation, infection, cancer, or autoimmune disease: Treat the underlying condition. Iron is only used if tests show iron deficiency.
- Hemolytic anemia, sickle-cell disease, thalassemia, or bone-marrow disorders: Require cause-specific specialist care. Iron should not be started unless iron deficiency is proved.
- Severe anemia or ongoing major bleeding: May require urgent hospital assessment, blood transfusion, and treatment to stop the bleeding.
Seek urgent care now for chest pain, fainting, confusion, shortness of breath at rest, rapidly worsening weakness, black/tarry stools, vomiting blood, or heavy uncontrolled bleeding.
Avoid starting high-dose iron without testing if possible: it may cause constipation/nausea, interact with medicines, and is not appropriate for every type of anemia. The cause matters as much as restoring the hemoglobin.
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