Blood_Disorders

Blood disorders Marlina Ralstin HCA/240 December 12, 2010 Dr. Judy Jean Blood disorders Amy, a four-year-old Caucasian female complains of being tired, is pale, and a picky eater. Amy eats only pasta, bread, and hotdogs, and only drinks artificial fruit punch. Based on the information provided above, Amy appears to be suffering from anemia. “Anemia is the condition of reduced numbers of red blood cells” (Human Diseases: A Systematic Approach). Red blood cells carry a protein called hemoglobin (HGB) in them and the HGB attaches to oxygen in the lungs and transports it throughout the body. Iron is necessary to make hemoglobin and the body gets that iron along with other nutrients from food (kidshealth.org). A reduction of red blood cell means that not enough oxygen is being transported to all the areas of the body and is what makes someone with anemia tired. Some of the causes of anemia include too little iron, vitamin B12, or folate. Other causes include damage to bone marrow, kidneys or blood loss from internal bleeding or a woman’s menstrual cycle, destruction of red blood cells, and some medications. There are several types of anemia and they include iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, folic acid deficiency anemia, and hemolytic anemia. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia and based on the information provides would be the most likely choice as to type of anemia that Amy suffers from. The treatment for iron deficiency anemia would include taking an iron supplement several times a day and changing the affected person’s diet to include more lean meats, green leafy vegetables, and orange juice. Orange juice contains vitamin C, which aids in the digestion of iron (kidshealth.org). Marcus, a five-year-old, African American male, who’s mother carries the “trait.” Based on the information above Marcus may have sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a genetically transmitted disease that requires receiving one gene from each parent. If only one parent carries the gene then the offspring from that relationship may carry the trait but not be affected by the disease (kidshealth.org). Sickle cell anemia occurs when the red blood cells are not formed properly. They have a distinct sickle or crescent shape instead of being round and are rigid instead of flexible like normal red blood cells. Because of their shape and rigidity the red blood cells in a person affected with sickle cell anemia bunch up causing obstructions in the vessels, which deprives the body’s tissue and organs of much needed oxygen. People with sickle cell anemia may experience severe pain episodes in the chest, arms, legs, stomach, and other parts of the body. These episodes are called pain crisis and may last only a few minutes in some cases but other cases may last for hours, days, or even weeks. People with sickle cell anemia also have a higher risk for experiencing complications because of an impaired circulation system and infection-fighting problems. At the present time no cure for sickle cell anemia. Several treatment methods for helping to control pain crisis and anemia in the affected patients have been developed. One such treatment is a blood transfusion to replace damaged red blood cells with healthy ones to improve the circulation system. Another treatment plan involves taking folic acid, a vitamin that helps the body to produce new red blood cells, pain medication to help relieve the symptoms of crisis, and antibiotics to help prevent infections (kidshealth.org). “Sickle cell anemia cannot be cured. Treatment is aimed at preventing sickle cell crisis, controlling the anemia, and relieving painful symptoms” (Human Disease: A Systematic Approach p134). Richard has noted over the past several weeks that he is developing more bruising, or ecchymosis, all over his body. After coughing this morning, he noticed tiny red marks all around his eyes. Based on the information above it appears that Richard may have idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). “ITP is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting” (MedlinePlus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov). The symptoms of ITP include abnormally heavy menstruation, bleeding into the skin causes a characteristic skin rash that look liked pinpoint red spots (petechial rash), easy bruising, and nosebleed, or bleeding in the mouth (MedlinePlus: http;//www.nlm.nih.gov). In children the disease sometimes follows a viral infection and usually goes away without treatment. In some cases children may need treatment and adults diagnosed with ITP are usually started on an anti-inflammatory steroid medication called prednisone. “If the disease does not get better with prednisone, other treatments may include: a medicine called danazol taken by mouth, injections of a high-dose gamma globulin, drugs that suppress the immune system, filtering antibodies out of the blood stream, or an anti-RhD therapy for people with certain blood types. The causes and risk factors for this disease are unknown, except in children when it may be related to a viral infection. Prevention methods are unknown” (MedlinePlus ; http://www.nlm.nih.gov) References Healthcentral.com. (5/7/10). Sickle cell anemia. Retrieved from http://www.thebody.com/content/art6002.html Mulvihill, M. L., Zelman, M., Holdaway, P., Tompary, E., & Raymond, J. (2006). Human Diseases: A systematic Approach (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. National Institutes of Health. (3/28/10). Idiopathic thromboctopenic purpura (ITP): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www. nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000535.htm kidshealth.org. (July 2009). Sickle cell anemia. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp'dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&cat_id=20166&article_set=73079 kidshealth.org. (June 2007). Anemia. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp'dn=KidsHealth&lic+1&ps=207&cat_id=20166&article+20078