Nutritional anaemias. Part 1: Tropical Africa

A review of nutritional anaemia in Africa is presented above. It has been noted that nutritional anaemia, including iron-deficiency anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia due to folate deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency, or both, and protein deficiency-anaemia, is widespread throughout Africa. It is particularly common in growing children, women of child-bearing age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The anaemia is also especially common during the second half of the dry season and the first half of the wet season, when food supplies are limited. In all cases the anaemia is caused either by limited dietary intake, excessive loss of nutrients or excessive utilization. The anaemia is associated with a number of sequelae including both structural changes, like mitochondrial swelling and mucosal atrophy, and functional abnormalities, such as cardiac failure, decreased work output, increased pregnancy risks and increased susceptibility to infections. The evidence in favour of increased susceptibility to infections in megaloblastic anaemia and protein-deficiency anaemia is overwhelming, but in iron-deficiency anaemia the available information argues in favour of reduced susceptibility to infections, except after initiation of iron therapy. The treatment of nutritional anaemia includes replacement of the deficient nutrients (and blood transfusion in severe cases), prevention of further nutrient losses and treatment of associated complications.