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Can someone travel abroad with low hemoglobin?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My wife went for a master's health checkup. Her fitness certificate was put on hold due to low hemoglobin and other blood test parameters. Her hemoglobin was 8 g/dL, ESR was 25, hematocrit was 26.8, MCV was 62.3, MCH was 18.8, MCHC was 30.0, and RDW was 21.4%. Can you please check these parameters and suggest if she can travel abroad?

Please help.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

Your wife has microcytic hypochromic anemia. The common causes of microcytic hypochromic anemia are iron-deficiency anemia, sideroblastic anemia, thalassemia minor, and anemia of chronic disease. Here, most likely the cause is iron-deficiency anemia.

So, I suggest you do the following test.

  1. Serum ferritin.
  2. Serum TIBC (total iron binding capacity).
  3. Transferrin receptor saturation assay if needed.
  4. For iron-deficiency anemia, ferrous sulfate tablets or syrup can be given for two to three months after consulting your doctor.
  5. The cause of iron-deficiency anemia has to be found so that it can be treated. For example, if there is a complaint of abdominal pain due to parasite eggs, then Albendazole is needed.
  6. It can also be caused by vaginal bleeding; then the cause should be searched for by pelvic examination and ultrasonogram.

Does your wife complain of excess bleeding? Does she take less nutritional food? Does she have abdominal pain?

She should consume green leafy vegetables (spinach), jaggery, dry fruits, etc.

I hope this information is helpful.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thanks for your response.

We have done a stool sample test and pelvic examination, and all reports were normal. I would also mention that nutritional intake was lower. We would need to travel abroad soon, so please suggest some medication and nutritional supplements.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  1. Your wife has iron-deficiency anemia due to a lack of nutritional intake.
  2. So, I would suggest taking one tablet of Orofer XT (a combination of Folic acid and elemental iron) daily, which contains Ferrous Ascorbate, equivalent to 100 mg of elemental iron. This drug should be consumed for at least two months, then repeat CBC (complete blood count).
  3. Take iron-rich food like green leafy vegetables, dry fruits, red meat, jaggery, beans, fortified iron cereal, and pasta can be used in breakfast.
  4. Avoid eating outside food.
  5. With the above advice, your CBC report will improve, and symptoms like weakness will also be resolved. Regularly check serum TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level to adjust Levothyroxine dosage.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please let me know if you have any further questions, and I would be happy to assist you.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At April 10, 2017
Reviewed AtApril 17, 2026

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