Teenage iron deficiency can look like “just tiredness”, but it can significantly affect learning, mood, and physical performance.
Common symptoms in teenagers
- Fatigue, low energy
- Headaches, dizziness
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Difficulty concentrating (“brain fog”)
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Paleness
- Cravings for ice (pica)
Common causes of iron deficiency in teenagers
- Rapid growth and increased iron requirements
- Dietary restriction/low iron intake
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Gastrointestinal causes (e.g., coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Reduced absorption after GI surgery (less common in this age group)
How is iron deficiency diagnosed?
Blood tests are essential. Commonly used markers include:
- FBC (Hb and indices)
- Ferritin
- TSAT/iron studies
- CRP when inflammation is suspected
Oral iron vs IV iron
Oral iron is often first-line, but IV iron may be considered when:
- Tablets are not tolerated
- Oral iron doesn’t work
- Absorption is reduced
- Quicker repletion is important
Our Specialist Pathway for 14–18s
At The Health Suite, our young people’s IV iron pathway is led by a paediatric gastroenterologist.
This supports:
- safe prescribing
- appropriate monitoring (including phosphate considerations for Ferinject)
- assessment of potential underlying causes