What Is Anemia?
Anemia is when the
number of red blood cells
in the body gets too low. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin), a protein
that carries oxygen throughout the body. Without enough of them, oxygen doesn't get
to the body's organs. Without enough oxygen, the organs can't work normally.
There are many different kinds of anemia, so treatments vary.
What Are the Different Kinds of Anemia?
The types of anemia are based on what causes them. They include:
- Anemias from when red blood cells get broken down too fast, called
hemolytic anemias.
They include:
- autoimmune hemolytic anemia: when the body's immune system destroys its own red
blood cells
- inherited hemolytic anemias: these include sickle
cell disease, thalassemia, G6PD
deficiency, and hereditary spherocytosis
- Anemia from bleeding. This can happen due to bleeding from an
injury, heavy menstrual periods,
the gastrointestinal tract, or another medical problem.
- Anemia from red blood cells being made too slowly, such as:
- aplastic anemia: when the body stops making red blood cells from an infection,
illness, or other cause
- iron-deficiency anemia:
when someone doesn't have enough iron in their diet
- anemia B12 deficiency: when someone doesn't get enough B12 in the diet or the
body can't absorb the B12
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Anemia?
Some children with anemia don't have any symptoms. A child who does have symptoms
might:
- look pale
- seem moody
- be very tired
- feel dizzy or lightheaded
- have a fast heartbeat
- have jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), an enlarged spleen, and dark tea-colored
pee (in hemolytic anemias)
Young children with iron-deficiency anemia also might have developmental delays
and behavioral problems.
How Is Anemia Diagnosed?
Doctors usually can diagnose anemia by:
- asking questions about symptoms
- asking about diet
- asking if any family members have anemia
- doing a physical exam
- doing blood tests to:
- look at the red blood cells with a microscope to check their size and shape
- check the amount of hemoglobin
and iron in the
blood
- check how fast new RBCs are being made
- check for any inherited anemias
- check other cells made in the bone marrow (such as white blood cells)
Sometimes doctors do tests on the bone
marrow. The bone marrow is the spongy part inside the bone where blood cells are
made. For this test, the doctor puts a needle into the bone to take a small bone marrow
sample. The sample is sent to the lab for special tests.
How Is Anemia Treated?
Treatment for anemia depends on the cause. Kids and teens with anemia might need:
- medicines
- changes in their diet
- treatment of another underlying disease
- to see doctors (hematologists) who specialize in anemia and other blood problems
How Can Parents Help?
Most kinds of anemia are treatable. It may take a while for symptoms to go away,
so your child should take it easy while recovering.
Help your child get the best care by:
- going to all doctor's appointments
- following the doctor's recommendations
