Medicine Corp and Healthy Green Living Guide – Medcorpgreen.com

Archive for the ‘Haematology’ Category

Symptoms of anaemia depend on the rapidity of onset and severity. Chronic anaemia may be asymptomatic because of a compensatory ? in cardiac output. Symptoms are usually non-specific: fatigue, headache, dizziness, syncope, dyspnoea, palpitations, reduced work or intellectual capacity. Anaemia may also exacerbate pre-existing intermittent claudication or angina.

The history is important in determining the cause(s) of anaemia: a past and family history of anaemia suggests an inherited disorder, such as haemoglobinopathy or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Haemolysis may be suggested by splenomegaly, jaundice, and dark urine and may be precipitated by infections. Sources of blood loss can be revealed from questions about bowel habit and colour of stools, haematuria, and menstrual history. Ask about recent surgery, childbirth, or trauma.

The occupation of the patient may be important e.g. fishermen may be prone to schistosomiasis and farmers to hookworm infection. Poor diet may suggest a nutritional deficiency. Chronic infections such as HIV and TB, renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and some drugs used to treat these conditions, may be associated with anaemia.