In simple words: Iron deficiency means your body doesn't have enough iron. This can happen if you don't eat enough iron-rich foods, lose blood (like from heavy periods or bleeding), your body doesn't absorb iron well, or you need more iron (like during pregnancy). Iron is important for carrying oxygen in your blood.If you have a deficiency, you might feel tired, pale, or short of breath.Doctors diagnose it with blood tests and treat it with iron supplements or changes to your diet.

Iron deficiency refers to a state where the body lacks sufficient iron.This can arise from insufficient dietary iron intake, excessive blood loss (e.g., from menstruation, gastrointestinal bleeding, or trauma), impaired iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., due to malabsorption syndromes or certain medications), or increased physiological demand for iron (e.g., during pregnancy, growth spurts, or increased physical activity). Iron is crucial for hemoglobin synthesis, oxygen transport, and various enzymatic processes.Consequently, deficiency can manifest as anemia, fatigue, pallor, shortness of breath, palpitations, headache, loss of appetite, brittle nails, and, in severe cases, developmental delays in infants and heart failure. Diagnosis involves reviewing the patient's history, conducting a physical examination, and utilizing laboratory tests such as serum ferritin, iron levels, and transferrin saturation measurements. Treatment strategies depend on the severity and etiology and may include dietary modifications, oral or intravenous iron supplementation, and addressing the underlying cause of the deficiency.

Example 1: A 25-year-old female presents with fatigue, pallor, and heavy menstrual bleeding.Laboratory tests reveal low serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels, confirming iron deficiency anemia.Treatment consists of oral iron supplementation and education on dietary iron intake., A 60-year-old male with a history of chronic gastrointestinal bleeding is diagnosed with iron deficiency due to occult blood loss.He is started on intravenous iron therapy given the severity of his anemia and difficulty with oral iron absorption., A pregnant woman in her second trimester develops iron deficiency due to increased fetal demand.She is prescribed oral iron supplements to support fetal development and prevent complications related to anemia.

Complete blood count (CBC), serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, patient history (including dietary intake, menstrual history, gastrointestinal symptoms, medication use), physical examination findings.

** Consider using additional codes to specify the cause or associated complications of the iron deficiency, such as specific types of anemia or gastrointestinal disorders.Always refer to the latest official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines for the most up-to-date information.