Anemia: types, manifestations, consequences

Anemia, or colloquially anemia, is a pathological condition characterized by a decrease in the hemoglobin content in the blood.

Anemia itself is not a disease, but a consequence of certain diseases and conditions of the body. In medicine, it is defined as a syndrome (a set of symptoms).

The causes of anemia are different, as are the mechanisms of its formation. But with all types of anemia, the amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal, so anemia is determined by a blood test.

Anemia is classified according to the reasons that caused them.

How to determine the type of anemia? Also on the blood test – each type of anemia gives its own indicators. In addition, doctors take into account the specific manifestations of each type of anemia.

Acute posthemorrhagic anemia

Its cause is blood loss caused by injury and loss of a large volume of blood at once.

Manifestations:

• dizziness and fainting;
• cold sweat;
• sharply paled skin;
• rapid pulse;
• reduced body temperature;
• vomiting is possible.

Effects:

With a decrease in blood volume by 25%, hemorrhagic shock develops. With the loss of half the volume of blood, there is a threat to life.

Iron deficiency anemia

It can be caused by several reasons, and the most frequent of them is that the body receives little iron (diets, fasting, as well as an increased need for this element, for example, during pregnancy).

Other factors include:

- iron is not absorbed in the intestine (pathology of the digestive tract);

- there is constant bleeding (uterine, ulcerative, due to hemorrhoids).

Manifestations:

• pale skin;
• excessive sweating;
• weakness, often shortness of breath;
• swollen face;
• atypical taste, altered sense of smell;
• thinning and fragility of hair and nails;
• constant elevated temperature.

Effects:

The child has a delay in physical development and a violation of mental abilities.

Due to lack of oxygen, cardiac, hepatic, insufficiency develop, the function of the kidneys and other organs is impaired.

The risk of infections increases. They flow hard, give relapses and complications.

In severe cases, an anemic coma develops due to an acute lack of oxygen for the brain.

Iron - refractory anemia

This type of anemia is characterized by the fact that iron is contained in the blood, but it is not included in hemoglobin. The disease may be hereditary. Only men suffer from the hereditary form.

The disease is based on a lack of enzymes involved in the absorption of iron by heme (heme is the non–protein part of hemoglobin).

Lead poisoning is also possible.

Manifestations:

• earthy skin;
• fatigue and drowsiness;
• headache, dizziness;
• tachycardia.

Effects:

The main complication is hemosiderosis, iron deposition in all organs. The heart, spleen, liver, brain, etc. may be affected. Hemosiderosis has severe consequences (heart failure, kidney failure, enlargement and compaction of the spleen, liver).

B12-deficiency anemia

Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when it is insufficiently supplied with food, as well as with poor assimilation due to gastrointestinal diseases, infection with worms, taking certain medications.

With anemia, B12 vitamins are not absorbed with food.

Manifestations:

• weakness, fatigue;
• sleep disorders;
• headaches;
• memory decline;
• difficulty swallowing food;
• muscle weakness.
• Effects:
• neurological symptoms;
• atrophic changes in the digestive organs;
• angina pectoris.

Folate deficiency anemia

Vitamin B9 deficiency (another name for folic acid) is either due to the fact that it is not enough in the food consumed, or it is poorly absorbed in the intestine.

Manifestations:

• dizziness, shortness of breath, general weakness, fatigue;
• pale skin, constant feeling of cold;
• strong heartbeat,
• brittle and flaking nails, split hair;
• digestive disorders.

Effects:

Due to hypercoagulation (increased blood clotting), blood clots may form.

With vitamin B9 deficiency, a child may be born with malformations

Men may develop infertility due to disorders in the formation of sperm.

Women can give birth to a child with malformations.

Sickle cell anemia

This is a type of hemolytic anemia, which is characterized by increased destruction of red blood cells. With sickle cell anemia, abnormal hemoglobin molecules are formed, which is why red blood cells acquire an unusual sickle shape (hence the name). Such red blood cells are rapidly destroyed, and also clog capillaries.

This is a hereditary pathology caused by a gene mutation. A child gets sick if he receives mutated genes from both parents. If an abnormal gene is inherited from one parent, the child becomes a carrier.

Manifestations:

jaundice skin;

fatigue, shortness of breath;

ulcers on the skin;

unexpected attacks of acute pain;

joint damage;

heart failure;

blood in the urine.

Effects:

Children have a delay in physical development, late puberty.

There is a curvature of the spine, the chest is deformed, bone fragility develops.

Problems with the spine

Blockage of capillaries leads to swelling of the hands and feet, causing severe pain.

A complication of sickle cell anemia is hemolytic crises.

In patients, the spleen increases, hypersplenism occurs – the destruction of blood cells and a decrease in their number, which leads to bleeding, a decrease in immunity.

Women may have miscarriages and premature birth.

The retina of the eye is affected up to complete blindness.

Hemorrhages occur in various organs.

Blockage of brain vessels leads to impaired motor functions, stroke.

Thalassemia

Thalassemia refers to hemolytic anemia. This is a hereditary pathology characterized by a violation of hemoglobin production and, as a result, a reduction in the life cycle of red blood cells.

The reason is a mutation of hemoglobin genes.

Manifestations:

disorders in the structure of bones;

altered skull shape (square head, large upper jaw, flattened nose bridge);

small narrow eyes;

the skin is pale, grayish or jaundiced;

the liver and spleen are large.

Effects:

lag in the physical and mental development of the child;

delayed sexual development;

deposition of iron in tissues (hemosiderosis);

susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Hypoplastic anemia

This type of anemia is characterized by a violation of the function of the bone marrow, which produces blood cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes) and platelets. As a result, their number in the blood plasma decreases.

Severe bleeding in anemia

Hypoplastic anemia can be genetically determined and inherited, or it can be acquired.

The cause of the hereditary form is a gene mutation.

Acquired forms can be caused by:

• exposure to radiation;
• chronic poisoning with poisons, etc.
• Manifestations:
• general weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, drowsiness;
• chills, dizziness and fainting;
• tachycardia;
• increased bleeding, formation of hematomas;
• ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes.

Effects:

• bleeding caused by even minor injuries;
• infectious diseases, pneumonia;
• acute leukemia.

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