Aplastic anemia
Disease information
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia
.
Serious illness characterized by
a
low yield of the
function
of the bone marrow.
The heart is often filled by fat cells that replace those that produce blood cells.
It affects all series of blood cells:
Red
blood cells,
White blood cells and.
Platelets.
Anyone
can be affected at any age.
Causes.
Half of the cases is due to drugs, especially immunosuppressive, or chemicals such as
aromatic
hydrocarbons (benzene and the like)
In other cases, the reason probably is an autoimmune
disease
caused by serious or for reasons not identified.
Infections
caused by the reduction of white cells, which are those that protect against them.
Pallor and fatigue stem from the lack of
red
blood cells and the tendency to bleed because of the lack of platelets.
Signs and symptoms.
Paleness.
Weakness, fatigue, faintness and shortness of breath.
Frequent
infections
.
Spontaneous
bleeding
nose, mouth, rectum,
vagina
, gums and other areas, including
central
nervous
system
.
Red
spots or
bleeding
under the skin.
Unexplained bruises.
Ulcers on the lining of the mouth, throat,
vagina
and rectum.
Risk Factors and Prevention.
Family
history of
aplastic
anemia
.
Genetic
factors such as
anemia
associated with
congenital
hipoplástica.
Use of certain medications and drugs.
Contact
or, more commonly, inhalation of toxic compounds, such as benzene, at work.
Serious illness recently.
Prevention.
Avoid prolonged exposure to toxic components such as benzene, used in many industrial chemicals.
Do not take any medicine unless necessary.
Diagnosis and Treatment.
Diagnosis is made by history and physical examination by
a
doctor
.
The history - making any of the medicines that can produce it, or
contact
with chemicals commented is
a
great help to guide the diagnosis.
Usually require testing of blood, nose, throat, urine and bone marrow.
General Measures.
Usually, the cause of hair loss, and some patients temporarily use
a
wig.
Keep your mouth scrupulously clean to reduce the possibility of
infection
.
Brush
your teeth often with
a
soft
brush
.
Rinse your mouth with
a
solution of hydrogen peroxide and water in equal shares, or
a
mouthwash if the
doctor
prescribes it.
Medication.
The best treatment is bone marrow transplant:
The bone marrow transplant requires
a
donor with compatible antigens; the best donors are the twins.
The donated marrow is gradually inserted into the veins of the patient, to try to replace defective cells in the bone marrow by healthy cells.
To prevent rejection of transplanted cells, are used immunosuppressive drugs.
Your physician may prescribe:
Antibiotics to prevent or treat an
infection
.
Medical rinses to remove
infections
of the mouth by
a
fungus.
Activity
.
Go back to your
normal
activities after treatment. Diet.
You may need
iron
supplements or vitamins, check with your
doctor
.
Complications.
Poor response to treatment due to
infections
and uncontrollable
bleeding
.
Rejection of the transplanted cells.
Attack
the body by the transplanted cells.
Tell your
doctor
if:
One of the following happens after the transplant:
Fever.
Any sign of
infection
such as inflammation anywhere in the body. Does not always appear.
redness, tenderness or pain.
Eruptions.
Jaundice (
yellow
skin and eyes)
Joint pain.
Urinary
discomfort or.
Reduction of urine in
a
single day.
Forecast.
The complications are fatal in 50% to 70% of the cases affected by severe
aplastic
anemia
.
This condition is curable provided they can identify the cause and treatment
has
good results.
Anemia
caused by immunosuppressive drugs usually heal spontaneously after stopping the drug.
The total restoration usually takes 6 to 8 months.
More information.
Inforsalud
Health
- Internet - web
health
.
Hematology.
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