Aplastic Anemia Causes - Possible Factors Involved in the Development of Aplastic Anemia

You may have aplastic anemia when your bone marrow starts producing a reduced number of all types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). Abnormal production of blood cells is often caused by damage on the bone marrow, which could be acquired or inherited. Some of the causes are idiopathic, which means they happen without known reason; while others are results from previous disorder like cancer (known as secondary aplastic anemia).

Acquired causes may include:

Exposure to toxins like benzene and heavy metals
Exposure to heavy dose of radiation
Intake of certain medications
Autoimmune disease like lupus
History of certain contagious like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and hepatitis

Inherited causes may include:

Familial aplastic anemias
Amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia
Reticular dysgenesis
Swachman-Diamond syndrome
Dyskeratosis congenital
Fanconi anemia
Different symptoms that may indicate that aplastic anemia is involved are:

Headache
Fever
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Tenderness in Sinus
Fatigue
Bruising
Abnormal paleness
Bleeding nose
Bleeding gums
Oral thrushes (white patches on any reddish and swollen surfaces inside the mouth)
Blood in stool
Enlarged liver
Enlarged spleen
Keep in mind that symptoms of aplastic anemia may be the similar to those of other blood disorders. A thorough and complete physical examination should always be performed by your physician. Diagnostic procedures may involve:

Blood tests
Bone marrow tests: aspiration and biopsy
Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious illness. Treatment options usually depend on the aplastic anemia causes. Recovery is possible; relapses can happen, too. Supportive therapy may treat the symptoms but not the disease.

Supportive therapy may involve:

Hormones
Immunosuppressive therapy
Medications (stimulants for the bone marrow to help on blood cells production)
Strict supervision on food preparation (food must be cooked completely)
Observance of personal hygiene (frequent hand-washing)
Preventative antibiotic therapy
Blood transfusion of both red blood cells and platelets

David Austin is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases. You can learn more about Aplastic Anemia Causes at his website. Burke-Eisner.com

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Aplastic Anemia Diagnosis

A patient is diagnosed to have aplastic anemia when his bone marrow is seen to produce a decreased number of each blood cell type. The human body is composed of three types of blood cells ñ the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. Reduced production of red blood cells result to a drop in the hemoglobin levels; a decrease in the white blood cell count will increase an individual's risk of getting serious infections. Decreased levels of platelets would in turn result in the blood clotting very easily. All of these would result a positive diagnosis.

Diagnosing Aplastic Anemia

A person who learns that he has this form of  anemia would most likely have difficulty dealing with the news, but that should not prevent him from delving deeper into the diagnosis with his physician. Various causes are related to the disease, which unfortunately are commonly idiopathic. Idiopathic is defined as something that occurred randomly, with no definite causes or reasons. On the other hand, the known causes may include the following:

History of medicine - taking, like antibiotics
Recognized history of being afflicted with certain infectious diseases such as Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis
Hereditary condition
Radiation exposure
Toxic chemical (such as benzene) exposure
It can either be developed over a period of time (generally without the patient even knowing that he is already at risk), and it can also be inherited. It is a common scenario for people not to have an idea that they are being exposed to benzene, which is a known carcinogen present in dyes, gasoline and cigarettes.

Aplastic Anemia Symptoms

A diagnosis for a arises from a number of known symptoms. Each patient suffering from the condition may experience varying symptoms, but some of these include:

Headaches
Bruising
Shortness of Breath
Dizziness
These symptoms of are very common to other afflictions as well, so it is best to have a proper consultation with expert physicians to ensure a correct diagnosis.

How Aplastic Anemia Can be Diagnosed

A thorough physical examination, along with the patient's medical history, will be required by the physician for a proper diagnosis. Blood tests, as well as a bone marrow aspiration or bone marrow biopsy, will also be included in the tests that need to be done.

Treatment Options

Doctors will have a clearer perspective on the patient's condition is when the disease is properly diagnosed. The diagnosis also provides a better understanding of how long the affliction has been in your body, what the causes are, and what the best treatment options will be. The best options for treatment for a patient will depend on a number of factors, which include the following:

Age
Medical History
Extent of the disease
Status of health
Without a doubt, receiving the news that you have aplastic anemia is a very difficult thing to handle for an individual; this is the reason why supportive therapy is also suggested for patients. Supportive therapy provides thorough information and guidance for the patients and their families, to help them deal with the condition better. The support will come from other individuals who have this disease, and the specialists who have dealt with the disease extensively.

David Austin is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases. You can learn more about Aplastic Anemia Diagnosis at his website. Burke-Eisner.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.