US Medical Term · conditions
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Anemia por deficiencia de hierro
Also: Anemia ferropénica (regional variant)
What it means
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body does not have enough iron. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, which provide oxygen to body tissues, and iron helps make red blood cells. It is the most common form of anemia. It develops when the body's iron stores run low, and bleeding can cause iron loss. A person may have no symptoms if the anemia is mild; symptoms are usually mild at first and develop slowly, and may include feeling weak or tired more often than usual, headaches, and dizziness. More serious iron-deficiency anemia may cause tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. To diagnose anemia, a health care provider may order blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC).
Iron Deficiency Anemia in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Anemia por deficiencia de hierro
- Gender and article
- feminine: la anemia por deficiencia de hierro
- Pronunciation
- ah-NEH-myah por deh-fee-SYEHN-syah deh YEH-rroh
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| anemia ferropénica | General | The title MedlinePlus en español gives its encyclopedia article on this condition; the RAE dictionary defines ferropénico as said of an anemia marked by iron deficiency in the red blood cells. |
| anemia - deficiencia de hierro | General | The index form MedlinePlus en español lists under its alternative names. |
MedlinePlus en español uses two names for this condition in the same article: the title is anemia ferropénica, and the text also calls it anemia por deficiencia de hierro. Both wordings name the same condition. The Real Academia Española dictionary records anemia as a feminine noun, so it takes la and una, and the adjective agrees with it: ferropénica, not ferropénico. The same dictionary marks ferropénico as a medical term (Med.) said of an anemia.
Words MedlinePlus en español uses alongside the term are hierro (iron), glóbulos rojos (red blood cells), hemoglobina (hemoglobin), conteo sanguíneo completo, abbreviated CSC (complete blood count), and ferritina sérica (serum ferritin). It describes heavy menstrual bleeding as sangrado menstrual abundante.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I have been feeling very tired and weak for the past few weeks. | He tenido mucho cansancio y debilidad durante las últimas semanas. |
| Clinician | Do you get dizzy when you stand up, or short of breath when you climb stairs? | ¿Se marea cuando se pone de pie o le falta el aire cuando sube escaleras? |
| Clinician | Are your periods heavy, or have you noticed dark or bloody stools? | ¿Sus períodos son abundantes, o ha notado heces oscuras o con sangre? |
| Clinician | I am going to order a blood test to check your red blood cells and your iron level. | Voy a pedirle un análisis de sangre para revisar sus glóbulos rojos y su nivel de hierro. |
| Patient | What does it mean that my hemoglobin and my ferritin are low? | ¿Qué significa que tenga bajas la hemoglobina y la ferritina? |
| Clinician | The results show iron deficiency anemia; now we need to find out why your iron is low. | Los resultados muestran anemia por deficiencia de hierro; ahora tenemos que averiguar por qué tiene bajo el hierro. |
| Patient | My mother had anemia too. Could you write the name of the condition down for me in Spanish? | Mi madre también tenía anemia. ¿Podría escribirme el nombre de la afección en español? |
| Clinician | If you have chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911; emergency signs need urgent care. | Si tiene dolor de pecho o dificultad para respirar, llame al 911; las señales de emergencia necesitan atención urgente. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Iron Deficiency Anemia |
| Spanish (Español) | Anemia por deficiencia de hierro |
| Chinese (中文) | 缺鐵性貧血 |
| Korean (한국어) | 철결핍성 빈혈 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thiếu máu thiếu sắt |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Iron Deficiency Anemia |
| Portuguese (Português) | Anemia ferropriva |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โลหิตจางจากการขาดธาตุเหล็ก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 鉄欠乏性貧血 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: D50 → Iron deficiency anemiaRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Blood and immune system
All terms in this area: Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
Sources
- Iron deficiency anemia (Medical Encyclopedia) — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Anemia ferropénica (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Iron-Deficiency Anemia — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH
- anemia — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- ferropénico, ca — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026