APLASTIC ANEMIA

This article is dedicated to giving full study regarding aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia is a rare syndrome but is a serious one

Usually anemias are of many types in which there is a reduced volume of blood with its total contents or reduced count of the RBCs or Red Blood Cells.

But in aplastic anemia even if there is the correct volume of blood is present but there are reduced count of red cells,white cells and platelets

Platelets are fragments of blood cells that help the blood to clot at the site of cuts or wounds and stop to bleed further.

If there is insufficient count of platelets then internal bleeding occur which may be superficial under the skin to form red patches and blisters under the skin. This may cause scratching and itching sense which may be wrongly diagnosed as microbial or fungal infections

Aplastic anemia occurs mainly due to damaged or inactive bone marrow

Bone marrow is a spongy soft tissue that develops to form stem cells. The stem cells further mature into various blood cells and release them into the bloodstream.

Normally our blood count of platelets is from 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of the blood. The lifespan of the platelets is around ten days.

If the bone marrow does not produce sufficient platelets within this lifetime then aplastic anemia occur.

Causes

Bone Marrow can be damaged or improperly work due to many reasons as follows:

1.Radio and Chemotherapies

2.AIDS

3.Viral diseases

4.Pregnancy

5. Fanconi anemia is common inherited anemia may cause aplastic anemia by damaging bonemarrow

6. Iron deficiency anemia may oo cause itchy skin which can be wrongly diagnosed as aplastic anemia

Symptoms

1.Itchy skin

2.Bleeding nose and Gums

3.Blood in the stool

4. Retinal bleeding leads to vision problems.

5.Over menstrual bleedings

6.fatigue

7.Nausea

6.Shortness of breath

7.Irregular heartbeats

8.Pale skin

9.Unexplained or easy bruising

10.Dizziness

11.Headache

The following symptoms may be due to lack of RBCs in the blood:-

1.Weakness

2.Tiredness

3.Shortness of breath

4.Lightheadedness

5.Palpitations

6.Cold hands and feet

7.Chest pain

Aplastic anemia can cause serious and frequent infections due to the lack of WBCs

Diagnoses

Medical Histories 

1.Exposure to toxins, radiations or other harmful environments

2. Cancer treatments with radio and chemotherapies

3.History of certain infectious diseases or autoimmune disorders

3.Infected or inherited conditions

A doctor's diagnosis may involve internal bleedings under the skin and may examine the stomach for the enlargement of the spleen

4. Blood total count and RBC count should be a part of diagnosis as they may show the entire picture of the blood cells.

Fewer than 150000 per microliter of the platelet counts may be considered as serious.

Treatments

Aplastic anemia can be classified as nonsevere, severe, and more severe determined by the blood cell count. The very low count indicates the severity of the condition.

The treatment may include,

1.Blood transfusion

2.Blood and bone marrow stem cell transplant

3.Medical therapy

Medicines may be used to attain the following stages

1.Bone marrow stimulation

2.Autoimmunity suppression

3.Prevent and treat infections

Outlook

Aplastic anemia causing rashes are rare but serious

If left untreated the condition gets worsen overtime

Medications

The following medications are useful in the treatment of Aplastic anemia but subjected to the diagnostic conditions from mild to moderate and under doctor's supervisions

1.Filgrastim Injections (Brand: Neupogen)

2.Sargramostim Injections Intradermal (Brand: Liukin)

3.Antithymocyte Globulin Intravenous shots (Brand: Agam)