Iron deficiency anaemia: does it really matter?

Iron deficiency is common in inner city areas in 2-year-olds in the UK and is almost exclusively related to poor feeding practices, with inappropriate carbohydrate-rich food, late weaning, and an excess of unmodified cow's milk containing no available iron. The potential seriousness of iron deficiency is often ignored, but it can lead to a poor neurodevelopmental outcome, poor growth and recurrent infections. It is best managed by advice on weaning onto iron-rich foods and avoidance of large intake of unmodified milk. There is a strong case for screening in poorer areas, and the provision of routine iron supplementation to vulnerable populations in parallel with the currently recommended vitamin supplementation.