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Anaemia - iron deficiency - Management
What monitoring is recommended for someone treated for iron deficiency anaemia?
- Recheck haemoglobin levels (full blood count) after 2–4 weeks to assess the person's response to iron treatment.
- Once haemoglobin concentration and red cell indices are normal:
- Continue iron treatment for 3 months to aid replenishment of iron stores and then stop.
- Then monitor the person's full blood count every 3 months for 1 year.
- Recheck after a further year.
- If haemoglobin or red cell indices drop below normal, give additional iron.
- Consider an ongoing prophylactic dose in people who at particular risk of iron deficiency anaemia.
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