🩸 1. Definition
Anemia is a condition where the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to:
- Low haemoglobin (Hb)
- Reduced red blood cells (RBCs)
- Low hematocrit (packed cell volume)
This leads to less oxygen reaching body tissues, causing fatigue and weakness.
🧬 2. What happens in the body
When red blood cells or haemoglobin levels drop:
- Oxygen transport decreases
- Organs receive less oxygen (hypoxia)
- The body compensates by increasing heart rate and breathing
📊 3. Key Laboratory Findings
🧪 Main diagnostic indicators:
- ↓ Haemoglobin (Hb)
- ↓ Hematocrit (Hct / PCV)
- ↓ Red blood cell count (RBC)
🔬 Additional tests:
- Reticulocyte count (shows bone marrow response)
- Peripheral blood smear (cell shape analysis)
- Iron studies (ferritin, iron, TIBC)
🧠 4. Classification of Anemia
🟡 Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Most common type
- Low iron → reduced haemoglobin
- RBCs are small and pale (microcytic, hypochromic)
🔵 Pernicious Anemia
- Caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Often due to lack of intrinsic factor
- Leads to impaired RBC production
🔴 Aplastic Anemia
- Bone marrow failure
- Causes low RBCs, WBCs, and platelets (pancytopenia)
🟠 Hemolytic Anemia
- RBCs destroyed too quickly
- Includes conditions like sickle cell disease
🟣 Anemia of Chronic Disease
- Linked to long-term illness, inflammation, infection, or cancer
- Iron is present but poorly used by the body
⚠️ 5. Signs and Symptoms
Caused by reduced oxygen delivery:
🧍 General symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale skin (pallor)
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
❤️ Cardiovascular:
- Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- Palpitations
🧠 Neurological:
- Dizziness (vertigo)
- Headaches
- Fainting
- Cold intolerance
🧪 6. Diagnostic Approach
- Blood tests (Hb, Hct, RBC count)
- Iron studies (ferritin, serum iron, TIBC)
- Reticulocyte count
- Blood smear examination
These help determine:
- Type of anemia
- Severity
- Underlying cause
💊 7. Management and Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause:
🟢 Common approaches:
- Iron supplements (iron deficiency)
- Vitamin B12 injections (pernicious anemia)
- Treating underlying disease (infection, bleeding, cancer)
- Blood transfusion (severe cases)
📌 8. Key Clinical Points
- Most common global anemia: iron deficiency
- Anemia is a symptom of underlying disease, not just a condition itself
- Bone marrow function is critical for diagnosis
- Early detection prevents complications like heart strain
🧾 9. Coding / Clinical Reference Note
- Unspecified anemia: D64.9 (ICD-10 code)
- If caused by cancer: malignancy is coded first, then anemia
🧠 10. Key Summary
Anemia is:
- A reduction in oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
- Caused by low RBCs, haemoglobin, or both
- Classified by cause and cell type
- Treated based on underlying condition
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