A 28-year-old female presents to the emergency department with severe fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin. Her lab results show hemoglobin of 6.8 g/dL and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 75 fL. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Thalassemia
Sickle cell anemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
The correct answer is iron deficiency anemia. The patient's symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin are classic signs of anemia. The low hemoglobin level (6.8 g/dL) confirms the presence of anemia, as normal levels for women are typically 12.0-15.5 g/dL. The low MCV (75 fL) indicates microcytic anemia, with normal values ranging from 80-100 fL. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of microcytic anemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is incorrect because it typically causes macrocytic anemia (high MCV). Sickle cell anemia is also incorrect as it usually presents with normocytic anemia and pain crises. Thalassemia could cause microcytic anemia but is less common than iron deficiency and often has a family history.
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
All Nursing and Medical Assistants Package plans include the following perks and exams .
Our pricing is simple. Full access to all certifications and exams in each package, for one price.
As many practice tests for as many topics as you want.
Use study mode non-stop, no limits.
Access to our AI assistant, Bash, trained to help you pass your exam.
Track your scores over time in study mode and report cards.
See how you improve over time, and where you need to focus.
All Nursing and Medical Assistants Package plans include unlimited access to the following study materials.
Create an account or sign in to access our study materials.