Anaemia, iron deficiency - Symptoms 

The most common symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia include:

• tiredness
• lethargy (lack of energy)
• shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
• palpitations (irregular heartbeat)

Less common symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia include:

• headache
• tinnitus, the perception of a noise in one or both ears or in your head that comes from inside your body, such as a ringing in your ears
• an altered sense of taste
• pica, a desire to eat non-food items, such as ice, paper or clay
• a sore tongue
• feeling itchy
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

Changed appearance

You may also notice changes in your physical appearance. For example, signs that you may have iron deficiency anaemia include:

• a pale complexion
• an abnormally smooth tongue (atrophic glossitis)
• painful ulcers (open sores) on the corners of your mouth (angular chelosis)
• dry, flaking nails
• spoon-shaped nails

Slow-developing symptoms

Many people with iron deficiency anaemia will only display a few signs or symptoms of the illness. For example, you may only notice tiredness or shortness of breath after running up the stairs.

The severity of your symptoms may depend on how quickly your anaemia develops. For example, you may notice very few symptoms or they may develop gradually if your anaemia is caused by a chronic (long-term) slow loss of blood, such as a stomach ulcer (an open sore that develops on the inside lining of your stomach).