An iron storage disease is a disease resulting from an excessive accumulation of iron in the body. The excessive iron can be stored in the liver or deposited in organs such as the heart, the pancreas, the joints, the spleen, the skin and others. Untreated, it can damage the affected organs.
An iron storage disease (hemochromatosis) is an excessive accumulation of iron in the body. Iron is one of the necessary elements for human body, however, if there is excessive iron accumulating in the body, it may cause both temporary and permanent damage.
An iron storage disease often happens to organs such as the liver, the heart, the pancreas or joints. Depending on the causes and the type of the iron storage disease, it can be classified into three different varieties. Inherited iron storage disease (primary hemochromatosis) is a genetic disease, so people with a family history have higher risk of getting it. In this type a genetic mutation leads to excessive resorption of iron in the small intestine. The acquired iron storage disease (secondary hemochromatosis) is caused by other diseases or events such as hemolytic anemia, liver diseases and frequent blood transfusion. Lastly, iron storage disease of the newborn (neonatal hemochromatosis) is a rare version and leads often to a severe liver disease. Patients with an iron storage disease may have a great variety of symptoms due to the different organs involved. Most common are liver enlargement and damage, diabetes, skin color change and joint pain. Less common symptoms are spleen enlargement, rhythm disorder of the heart, fatigue and weakness. Untreated, it can permanently damage the affected organs.
An excessive accumulation of iron can be decreased by phlebotomy. The treatment is aimed to take out a certain amount of blood in order to lower down the level of iron in the body. It is recommended that people with an iron storage disease should check their iron level in the blood regularly.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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