Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in young children

Abstract

Deficiency of iron is the most common nutrition disorder in the world [1, 2]. In public health terms, iron deficiency is the primary cause of nutritional anemia worldwide. Folic acid deficiency is less widely spread and is in fact observed often along with iron deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is comparatively uncommon. From the public health point of view, prevalence of anemia is taken as a proxy indicator for iron deficiency. It is estimated that when prevalence of iron deficiency anemia of 40% is reported, the prevalence of iron deficiency will be around 100% (Figure 24.1) and when anemia prevalence is 20% iron deficiency is estimated to exist in 50% of the population [3].