Anemia

Preview

Anemia is a disease in which the number of red blood cells or the concentration of hemoglobin they contain is lower than normal. It mainly affects women and children.

Anemia occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin in the body to carry oxygen to organs and tissues.

In severe cases, anemia can lead to poor cognitive and motor development in children. It can also cause problems for pregnant women and their babies.

Anemia can be caused by poor diet, infections, chronic illnesses, heavy periods, pregnancy problems and family history. It is often caused by a lack of iron in the blood.

Anemia is preventable and treatable.

In many low- and middle-income settings, the most commonly recognized causes of anemia are iron deficiency and malaria.

Scope of the problem

Population groups most vulnerable to anemia include children under 5 years of age, particularly infants and children under 2 years of age, adolescent girls and menstruating women, and pregnant and postpartum women. -partum.

Anemia is estimated to affect half a billion women aged 15 to 49 and 269 million children aged 6 to 59 months worldwide. In 2019, 30% (539 million) of non-pregnant women and 37% (32 million) of pregnant women aged 15 to 49 had anemia.

The WHO regions of Africa and South-East Asia are the most affected, with an estimated 106 million women and 103 million children affected by anemia in Africa and 244 million women and 83 million children affected in Southeast Asia.

Signs and symptoms

Anemia causes symptoms such as fatigue, reduced physical work capacity and shortness of breath. Anemia is an indicator of poor nutrition and other health problems.

Common, nonspecific symptoms of anemia include:

• fatigue
• dizziness or feeling light-headed
• cold hands and feet
• headache
• shortness of breath, especially on exertion.

Severe anemia can cause more serious symptoms, including:

• pale mucous membranes (mouth, nose, etc.)
• pale skin and under the nails
• rapid breathing and heart rate
• dizziness when getting up
• bruises more easily.

Causes

Anemia is diagnosed based on blood hemoglobin concentrations below specified thresholds established based on age, sex and physiological status. It is considered a symptom of one or more underlying conditions.

Anemia can be caused by several factors: nutrient deficiencies, inadequate diet (or inadequate absorption of nutrients), infections, inflammation, chronic diseases, gynecological and obstetrical problems, and inherited red blood cell disorders.

Iron deficiency, mainly due to insufficient dietary iron intake, is considered the most common nutritional deficiency leading to anemia. Deficiencies of vitamin A, folate, vitamin B12, and riboflavin can also lead to anemia due to their specific role in hemoglobin synthesis and/or erythrocyte production. Other mechanisms include nutrient losses (e.g., blood loss due to parasitic infections, hemorrhage associated with childbirth, or menstrual loss), impaired absorption, low iron stores at birth, and nutritional interactions affecting iron bioavailability.

Infections can be another important cause of anemia, depending on the local burden of infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and parasitic infections. Infections can impair nutrient absorption and metabolism (e.g., malaria, ascariasis) or cause nutrient loss (e.g., schistosomiasis, hookworm). Many different chronic diseases can cause inflammation and lead to inflammatory anemia or chronic disease-related anemia. HIV infection causes anemia through a wide range of mechanisms, including inefficient production or excessive destruction of red blood cells, blood loss, and side effects of drug treatment.

Heavy and constant menstrual discharge, increased maternal blood volume during pregnancy, and blood loss during and after delivery, especially in cases of postpartum hemorrhage, usually lead to anemia.

Additionally, in some areas, inherited red blood cell disorders are a common cause of anemia. These include conditions such as α- and β-thalassemia due to abnormalities in hemoglobin synthesis, sickle cell disorders due to changes in hemoglobin structure, other hemoglobinopathies due Hemoglobin gene variants, red blood cell enzyme abnormalities, or red blood cell abnormalities. membrane.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment and prevention of anemia depends on the underlying cause of the disease. There are many effective ways to treat and prevent anemia.

Diet changes can help reduce anemia in some cases, including:

• eat foods rich in iron, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and other nutrients
• eat healthily with a variety of foods
• take supplements if a qualified healthcare professional recommends them.

Other health conditions can cause anemia. Actions include:

• prevent and treat malaria
• prevent and treat schistosomiasis and other infections caused by soil-transmitted helminthiasis (parasitic worms)
• get vaccinated and practice good hygiene to prevent infections
• manage chronic illnesses like obesity and digestive problems
• wait at least 24 months between pregnancies and use birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancies
• prevent and treat heavy menstrual bleeding and hemorrhage before or after birth
• delay clamping the umbilical cord after delivery (not earlier than 1 minute)
• treat inherited red blood cell disorders like sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Self-care

There are several ways to prevent and manage anemia in everyday life, including eating a healthy, varied diet and talking to a healthcare professional promptly if you have symptoms of anemia.

To maintain a healthy and diversified diet:

• eat foods rich in iron, including lean red meats, fish and poultry, legumes (eg lentils and beans), fortified cereals and dark green leafy vegetables;
• eat foods rich in vitamin C (such as fruits and vegetables) which help the body absorb iron; And
• Avoid foods that slow iron absorption when consuming iron-rich foods, such as cereal bran (whole wheat flour, oats), tea, coffee, cocoa, and calcium.

If you take calcium and iron supplements, take them at different times of the day.

People with heavy menstrual bleeding should consult their doctor for treatment. Doctors may recommend iron supplements or hormonal birth control.

Certain infections can cause anemia. Wash your hands with soap and water and use a clean toilet to reduce the risk of infection.

Malaria can also cause anemia. People living in places where malaria is common should follow prevention advice from local health authorities. Seek prompt treatment if you think you have malaria.