SLOs for Anemia

clinical manifestations, medical management for each type of anemia

anemia

• low hemoglobin (male: 14-18, female: 12-16)

• avoid use of body extremity

• pallor (paleness of skin)

• fatigue

• irritability

sickle cell anemia

• chronic pain

• sickle cell crisis (pain in hands/feet/arms/torso/legs)

• pain is stabbing, squeezing, pins and needles

aplastic anemia

• failure of bone marrow to produce rbcs, underproduction

• inherited, acquired then not diagnosed until adulthood

hemolytic anemia

• infraction/ischemia of body tissue

vitamin deficiency anemia

• low vitamin B12 and folate levels

• “bounding” feelings of a heartbeat

pernicious anemia

• autoimmune destruction of gastric parietal cells, leading to a lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb vitamin B12

treatment of anemias

sickle cell anemia

• management of pain crises → narcotic pain medication, patient coltrolled analgesia, warm compress

• iv fluids

• blood tranfusion

• prophylactic antibiotics (reduce the risk of infection)

aplastic anemia

• blood transfusion

• medications for infection

• bone marrow transplant

vitamin deficiency anemia

• iron supplement (ferrous sulfate)

anemia as symptom vs. primary disease

symptom

• manifestation of another underlying condition

• hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are a clue, not the root

• treat the cause

• can be inherited or sudden

primary

• not caused by another condition

• management of disease itself

• can be inherited or sudden

• often chronic or genetic

different categories and specific types of anemia

• sickle cell anemia

• aplastic anemia

• hemolytic anemia

• vitamin deficiency anemia

• pernicious anemia