A primigravida at 30 weeks gestation is found to have haemoglobin 6.8 g/dL with microcytic hypochromic indices and serum ferritin 3 ng/mL. Using the standard grading adopted by Indian guidelines, her anaemia is classified as:

• A Mild anaemia
• B Moderate anaemia
• C Severe anaemia ✓
• D Very severe anaemia

Explanation

The widely used grading in India is: mild 10.0 to 10.9 g/dL, moderate 7.0 to 9.9 g/dL, severe below 7.0 g/dL, and very severe below 4.0 g/dL. A haemoglobin of 6.8 g/dL therefore falls into the severe category. Very severe anaemia is reserved for values under 4 g/dL, so option D is incorrect despite how ill this patient may look clinically.

Reference: Ian Donald's Practical Obstetric Problems, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.