Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world, and probably the most important micronutrient deficiency in India, where 69.5 percent of children in the age group of six to 59 months are suffering from anemia of which 63 percent are in the urban areas and 71.5 percent in the rural areas. While 56 per cent of adolescent girls are anemic, boys too are falling prey to the disease. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) conducted in 2005-06, presents the statistics that mark a growth in cases pertaining to anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. Most of the anemic patients, especially women, suffer from mild to severe deficiency of iron. The hemoglobin count in most of the adolescent girls in India is less than the standard 12 g/decilitre, the standard accepted worldwide.

Those most affected by iron deficiency anemia include young children, pregnant women, and menstruating girls and women. The fact is that about half of all pregnant women experience iron deficiency anemia during their pregnancies, and at least one out of five girls and women experience the condition at some point during their reproductive years. Of course, excessive blood loss of any kind can also cause iron deficiency anemia. Other causes of iron deficiency anemia include not consuming enough dietary iron, and not absorbing the iron from the foods people eat. Iron deficiency anemia can range from mild to severe. The key factor that determines symptoms of iron deficiency anemia is the degree of iron deficiency anemia. For example, the mild iron deficiency anemia is mostly asymptomatic. On the other hand, in severe iron deficiency anemia the patient will likely experience more symptoms and complications.

While the treatment of iron deficiency anemia is relatively easy, not getting treatment can have devastating consequences. In case of iron deficiency, the heart has to work harder to get oxygen to organs. Eventually, the stress that iron deficiency anemia causes to your heart, may lead to heart problems including a fast or irregular heartbeat, an enlarged heart, chest pain, and ultimately heart failure. For pregnant, the consequences of untreated iron deficiency anemia may lead to premature labor and delivery of low-birth weight babies. Illiteracy, poverty and general economic and social development have a bearing on the incidence of anemia among people of our country.