In most cases, a mild form of anemia (anemia) is not detected until a laboratory test is performed.
However, the following symptoms and complaints may indicate iron deficiency anemia:
Leading symptoms
- Abnormal binge eating
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Aphthae (painful, erosive mucosal changes) on the oral mucosa.
- Exertional dyspnea – shortness of breath on exertion.
- Exercise tachycardia – increased pulse rate during exercise.
- Paleness of the skin and mucous membranes
- Brittle nails
- Cephalgia (headache)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) in mucosal atrophy of the mouth, tongue, pharynx and esophagus with iron deficiency anemia (so-called Plummer-Vinson syndrome).
- Concentration disorders
- Tiredness and fatigue (often minor in children).
- Mouth angle rhagades (mouth angle tears).
- Nail symptoms:
- Brittle nails
- Koilonychia (spoon nails) – nail change with trough-shaped depression and increased brittleness of the nail plate.
- Pruritus (itching)
- Decreased physical and mental performance
- Xeroderma (dry skin)
- Burning tongue
