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Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is characterized by an insufficient supply of all blood cell types, including an abnormal or insufficient production of red cells in the bone marrow. Aplastic anemia, diagnosed in 5,000-6,000 Americans a year, can result from severe viral infections, diseases of the immune system, and hepatitis. It is also associated with cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, both of which adversely affect the bone marrow's ability to produce red blood cells. If not successfully treated, aplastic anemia results in death for about 85% of those afflicted by the condition.
Aplastic anemia is considered a medical emergency, and a bone marrow transplant is performed as quickly as possible after diagnosis. Bone marrow transplantation
Megaloblastic anemia
Megaloblastic anemia is due to a deficiency of certain vitamins, notably vitamin B12 and folic acid, which causes the marrow to produce red cells that are larger than normal and have reduced oxygen-carrying ability. These abnormal red blood cells are called macrocytes. Sometimes the deficiency occurs when the person's diet is deficient. Vitamin B 12 is found in foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, and dairy products; folic acid is found in green vegetables and liver. In other cases, the deficiency occurs because the person's body is unable to absorb the B12, a condition known as pernicious anemia.
Books
Larkin, Marilynn. What You Can Do About Anemia. New York: Dell, 1993.
Periodicals
Krucoff, Carol. "Exercise and Iron." Saturday Evening Post, September-October 1996, vol. 268, no. 5, p. 21+.
Purdy, Candy. "Anemia: More Than Tired Blood.'" Current Health 2, Sept 1994, vol. 21, no. 1 p. 28+.
Raloff, Janet. "Umbilical Clamping Affects Anemia Risk." Science News, April 27, 1996, vol. 149, no. 17, p. 263.
Young, Neal S. "Aplastic Anaemia." The Lancet, July 22, 1995, vol. 346, no. 8969, pp. 228-32.
Audiovisual Recordings
Rosner, Fred. The Doctor Talks to You About Anemias. Bayside, NY: Soundwords, Inc., 1982.
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Author Info: , Thomson Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence, 1998 |
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