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ANAEMIA
Haemoglobin, a pigment found in red blood cells, carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. When the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood is below the normal range for age and sex of the individual, the person suffers from anaemia. A deficiency in iron, an important component of hemoglobin, is the most common cause of anaemia.
SYMPTOMS
- Pale lips and mouth lining, nail beds, skin creases, and the inside of the eyelids.
- Lethargy (lack of vigour), tiredness, weakness.
- Shortness of breath when exercising.
- Dizziness, fainting spells(because less oxygen reaches the brain).
- Angina pectoris(pain in the chest caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the heart muscle).
- Palpitations (fast and extraordinarily strong heartbeat).
- Poor appetite and weight loss, difficulty in walking, and mental confusion (due to vitamin B12 deficiency).
- Jaundice, in haemolytic anaemia.
COMMON CAUSES
- Vitamin or mineral deficiency (particularly iron and vitamin B12). Pregnant women need more iron; if iron intake is not increased, the woman can become anaemic, especially during the second half of pregnancy.
- Low production of red blood cells, which may be inherited or due to a deficiency in folic acid
- Hereditary red cells defects such as sickle cell anamia, haemolytic anaemia (abnormally fast rate of red cell destruction not compensated by increased production), and thalassemia.
- Excessive or abnormal blood loss (e.g. heavy menstrual flow, bleeding stomach ulcer).
- Certain drugs which destroy red blood cells or cause bleeding in the stomach.
- Diseases which affect the production of red blood cells(e.g. leukemia).
- Certain treatments (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy).
- In children, moderate to severe intestinal parasitism or worm infestation(especially hookworm).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Consult your doctor or Pharmacist who will determine the cause and treat accordingly.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR /PHARMACIST CAN DO FOR YOU
- Do tests to confirm the condition,find out how bad it is,and identify its cause and treat it.
- If the anaemia is due to:
- Iron deficiency - recommend iron supplements to correct it and at the same time determine and treat the cause of the anaemia.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency -Vitamin B12 injection can be given to patient who has pernicious anaemia.
- Intestinal parasitism or worm infestation - prescribing deworming medicine.
- Heavy blood loss -recommend blood transfusion for patients who are haemodynamically unstable.
- For pregnant women, prescribe a combination iron and folic acid.
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