Analysis of the Types of Anemia - Essay Example

Unusual fatigue and weakness; paleness; headache; dizziness, lightheadedness, and vertigo; irritability; poor appetite; restless leg syndromeInitial symptoms may be so mild as to be unnoticeable(Mayo Clinic staff, 2011f)Blood tests to visually look for small, pale red blood cellsHemocrit, hemoglobin, and ferritin testingTests to determine initial cause of anemia(Mayo Clinic staff, 2011g)Use of oral iron supplementationTreatment of underlying cause of blood loss, such as peptic ulcersMany times treatment is preventative, such as giving iron tablets to women who have heavy menstrual bleeding or are pregnant(Mayo Clinic staff, 2011h)Vitamin Deficiency AnemiaLack of vitamins required to create healthy blood cells, either from a lack of those nutrients in the diet or from an inability to properly absorb those nutrients (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011i)Fatigue; mental status changes; yellowish or pale skin; muscle weakness and loss of balance; swollen, dark red tongue; diarrhea; unintentional weight loss; numbness or tingling sensation (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011j)Blood tests to visually confirm smaller and fewer red blood cellsLevels of certain vitamins (namely, folate, B-12, and Vitamin C) in the bloodstreamTests to determine initial cause of vitamin deficiency(Mayo Clinic staff, 2011k)Treatment for vitamin deficiency anemia involves supplementation of the missing nutrient, either orally or through injection (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011l)Hemolytic AnemiaLack of red blood cells in the blood due to early destruction of the cells.

This can be caused by inherited genetic mutations, auto-immune disorders, infections, or medications. Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia are considered sub-sets of hemolytic anemia (Vorvick, Chen, & Zieve, 2010)Fatigue; pale or jaundiced skin; fever and chills; rapid heartbeat; shortness of breath; dark-colored urine; enlarged spleen (Vorvick et al., 2010)Urine tests for free hemoglobin or hemosiderinVisual red blood cell count blood tests for hemoglobin and hematocrit levelsSerum level testing of haptoglobin, LDH, and indirect bilirubin levels direct measurement of red blood cell life with radioactive tagging (Vorvick et al., 2010)Treatment depends on the ultimate cause of anemia.

Folic acid or iron supplementationCorticosteroidsBlood transfusions for acute casesSplenectomy (Vorvick et al., 2010)Sickle Cell AnemiaSickle cell anemia is caused by an inherited genetic condition which results in malformed red blood cells (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011q)Fatigue; episodic pain in the bones, joints, and abdomen; swollen hands and feet (hand-foot syndrome); frequent infections caused by weakened immune system; developmental delays, slowed growth, and delayed puberty; impaired vision (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011r)Blood test for the presence of hemoglobin visual inspection for the presence of sickle cells prenatal screening for children of carriers or sufferers (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011s)Elimination of the disease can be achieved only through bone marrow transplants of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infections pain relief for symptoms daily hydroxyurea for severe cases, which carries some risk of severe side effects (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011t)ThalassemiaThalassemia is caused by a mutation in the genes responsible for the creation of hemoglobin (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011a)Severity of symptoms depends on severity of the mutation.

Minor mutations may show no outward symptoms. Fatigue and weakness; shortness of breath; pale or jaundiced skin; irritability; facial deformities; abdominal swelling; dark-colored urine; delayed or slowed growth (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011b)Blood tests to visually inspect for low levels of red blood cells, small or pale red blood cells, and/or unusually shaped and colored red blood cell testing for iron and hemoglobin level DNA analysisPrenatal testing done for children of potential carriers (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011c)Mild thalassemia requires little to no treatment.

Severe thalassemia is treated with blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants. (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011d)Aplastic AnemiaAplastic anemia is ultimately caused by damage to the bone marrow, which shuts down or slows the production of new blood cells. Can be caused by medications or an auto-immune disorder, but is often idiosyncratic (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011m)Fatigue; shortness of breath; irregular or rapid heartbeat; pale skin; frequent infections; unexplained bruising; prolonged bleeding from cuts, bleeding gums, and frequent nosebleeds; skin rash; dizziness; headache(Mayo Clinic staff, 2011n)Blood tests to visually inspect for low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Aplastic anemia is suspected if all three are low. Bone marrow biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011o)Blood transfusions to replace lost red blood cells and platelets one marrow transplant treatment of underlying cause when possible, such as through immune suppressants, bone marrow stimulants, and other drugs (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011p)