Anaemia symptoms - Symptoms & Causes

Anaemia is a blood disease in which the blood has a reduced disability to carry oxygen. This can be because of a lower than the required number of blood cells. It can also occur due to a reduced amount of haemoglobin available for oxygen transport. Any kind of abnormalities in haemoglobin can also impair its function. The causes of blood loss can be impaired nutrition, excessive blood loss during accidents or surgeries.

This Story also Contains

1. What is Anaemia?
2. Types of Anaemia
3. Symptoms of Anaemia
4. Causes of Anaemia
5. Risk Factors of Anaemia
6. Diagnosis of Anaemia
7. Treatment of Anaemia
8. MCQs on Sickle Cell Anaemia

When anaemia comes on slowly, the symptoms are not noticeable, such as tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, headaches, and reduced ability to concentrate. Upon acute anaemia, symptoms show up as confusion, nausea, loss of consciousness, and increased thirst. In case of acute anaemia, the person becomes noticeably pale. Anaemia is the topic of the chapter Human Health and Disease. It is a chapter in the biology subject.

What is Anaemia?

Your body cannot create enough healthy erythrocytes (red blood cells) to adequately oxygenate your tissues when you have anaemia. You could have fatigue and a feeling of unconsciousness if you have low haemoglobin, or are anaemic. As a result, experiencing cold and exhibiting signs of weakness are common.

Although anaemia can take many different forms, iron deficiency in anaemia is the most common. By increasing your intake of iron, you can start to reduce the symptoms of this type of anaemia. While some forms of anaemia are mild and transient, others can be lifelong. Some basic facts about anaemia are discussed below:

• Anaemia is diagnosed using several types of blood tests to determine the exact diagnosis.

• The treatment may involve that we change supplements, medication or even blood transfusions in severe cases.

• Some of the basic symptoms of anaemia are fatigue, weakness, pale skin, breathlessness and dizziness.

• Some types of anaemia may include iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, and folate deficiency, and it can even be related to some kind of chronic disease.

Types of Anaemia

Anaemia can take many different forms. A few prevalent forms of anaemia include

• Hemolytic anaemia

• Iron deficiency anaemia

• Aplastic anaemia

• Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia

All of them are discussed below in the table.

Symptoms of Anaemia

The most common symptom of anaemia is fatigue. Symptoms vary from person to person. Mild anaemia can cause some people to have few or no symptoms. Other common symptoms include

• Pallid complexion

• A fast or irregular heartbeat

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Headache

• Lightheadedness

Causes of Anaemia

To survive, the body needs RBCs. They need haemoglobin, a protein that binds to iron atoms. From the lungs, these molecules transport oxygen to the rest of the body. Low RBC counts and anaemia can be brought on by a variety of medical disorders. Some common grounds are discussed below:

Risk Factors of Anaemia

There are several factors that lead to the onset of anaemia. It is a condition in which there is less amount of blood in the body. According to the following factors, you are more likely to have anaemia:

Diagnosis of Anaemia

Anaemia can be diagnosed in several ways, but the most popular option is a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). This examination evaluates several elements, including,

• Hematocrit levels are calculated by contrasting the volume of RBCs with the total amount of blood.

• levels of haemoglobin.

• RBC count.

Anaemia can be treated in a variety of ways. Each seeks to raise an individual's RBC count, which raises the blood's oxygen content.

Treatment of Anaemia

The type of anaemia a person has determines the necessary treatment. Treatment is necessary to reverse the symptoms of the disease. The following are some common anaemia treatment options:

MCQs on Sickle Cell Anaemia

Q1. Sickle cell anemia is:

Option 1: caused by substitution of valine by glutamic acid in the beta globin chain of haemoglobin

Option 2: caused by a change in a single base pair of DNA

Option 3: characterized by elongated sickle like RBCs with a nucleus

Option 4: an autosomal linked dominant trait

Correct answer: 2) caused by a change in a single base pair of DNA

Explanation:

• A group of conditions known as sickle cell disease affect haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body.

• Haemoglobin S, the typical haemoglobin molecule found in sickle cell patients, can cause red blood cells to swell into a sickle, or crescent, shape.

• The codon for deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) is CAC, while the codon for complementary RNA is GUG, which results in the formation of the amino acid valine, instead of glutamic acid.

• An inherited form of anaemia known as sickle cell anaemia is characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells to transport sufficient oxygen throughout the body.

• As a result, sickle cell disease and a disorder brought on by a change in a single DNA base pair.

• Since it is caused by a change in a single base pair of DNA, it is called a single-base mutation.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) caused by a change in a single base pair of DNA

Q2. Identify the correct treatment for sickle cell anaemia.

Option 1: Gene therapy

Option 2: Blood transfusions

Option 3: Bone marrow transplantation

Option 4: All of the above

Correct answer: 4) All of the above is correct.

Explanation:

Gene therapy, blood transfusions and transplantation of bone marrow are all the best treatments for sickle cell anaemia. Gene therapy identifies and modifies the patient's genes to regain the lost functionality. Blood transfusions fill back the healthy red blood cells. Bone marrow transplantation involves replacing the patient's bone marrow with that of a healthy donor, which can produce healthy red blood cells.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) All of the above is correct.

Q3. Sickle cell anaemia is caused by :

Option 1: complete absence of the haemoglobin gene

Option 2: point mutation of the haemoglobin gene

Option 3: increased affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen

Option 4: truncation of the haemoglobin protein

Correct answer: (2) point mutation of the haemoglobin gene.

Explanation:

Sickle-cell anaemia is caused by point mutation in the B-globin chain of haemoglobin. In the normal haemoglobin molecule protein, has a glutamic acid (an amino acid) at the sixth position in the primary structure (simple amino acids chain), in one of its polypeptide chains which form together a quaternary structure.

The sickle cell haemoglobin protein has valine in the place of glutamic acid in the sixth position. Glutamic acid is a water-loving or hydrophilic-charged amino acid while valine is a non-polar and water-hating (hydrophobic) amino acid. In sickle cell, glutamic acid is replaced by valine in the primary structure.

Hence, the correct answer is Option (2) point mutation of the haemoglobin gene.

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