
Signs Of Low White Blood Cell Count – Blood cell disorders are conditions that affect any of your blood cells – these include your red and white blood cells, and even your platelets. All of these cells are formed in your bone marrow. When certain disorders disturb the function of one of these cells, they can also impair multiple blood cells and their given function. .
Below are some common benign blood conditions that affect blood cells and platelets. To help patients better understand each condition, we’ve compiled the symptoms, risk factors, means of diagnosis, and treatment options for each benign bleeding condition.
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Signs Of Low White Blood Cell Count
What is Anemia? Anemia is a blood cell disorder that affects the function of your red blood cells. If you suffer from anemia, your body lacks the healthy blood cells that need to carry oxygen to the rest of your body. Anemia is also sometimes referred to as low hemoglobin. .
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Signs and symptoms related to anemia depend on the severity and type of anemia you have been diagnosed with. Additionally, anemia sometimes has no symptoms. However, some symptoms that are indicative of anemia include:
Anemia is often associated with a lack of specific vitamins and minerals, chronic conditions and intestinal disorders. Additionally, other anemia risks for anemia include pregnancy, months, age, and family history of anemia.
To diagnose anemia, our hematologists may recommend a complete blood count (FBC), which will inform us about the level of red blood cells that are present in your blood.
If due to nutritional deficiency, supplementation of the deficient nutrients (folate, iron or vitamin B12) may be sufficient. If there are other causes, the treatment will be done in the same way.
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Iron deficiency anemia is a common form of anemia when the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin.
Some common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are general fatigue, unusual weakness, pale skin, itching sensation in the legs, swelling and numbness of the tongue, brittle nails, frequent pains.
Iron deficiency anemia typically results from poor dietary intake, blood loss, increased iron needs during pregnancy, and impaired iron absorption from the diet. Risk factors for iron deficiency include age, genetic conditions and lifestyle choices.
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Our hematologists may recommend a series of tests to diagnose iron deficiency anemia. These tests may include a complete blood count (FBC), an iron profile, and additional diagnostic tests may be required, such as a colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule out any bowel causes.
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Treatment options for iron deficiency anemia may include oral iron supplements, intravenous iron infusion, and red blood cell transfusion.
You can find more information on iron deficiency anemia, its symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options here.
Aplastic anemia is a rare and serious condition in which insufficient blood cells are produced in the body. This causes the body to feel tired and increases the risk of both uncontrolled bleeding and infection.
Some risk factors for aplastic anemia include exposure to toxic chemicals, radiation or chemotherapy during cancer treatment, certain prescription drugs, pregnancy and autoimmune disorders.
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Treatment of aplastic anemia depends on the age and severity of the patient’s condition. Treatment aims to restore blood cell production. It resolves on its own without treatment if the condition is mild, which is not very common. Patients are likely to need blood and platelet transfusions to prevent and control infections.
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder affecting red cell production. Abnormal blood production means that affected individuals do not make sufficient amounts of functional red blood cells.
There are several types of thalassemia, and the most common forms are alpha and beta thalassemia. Interestingly, patients with thalassemia may present with thalassemia minor or thalassemia major.
The symptoms of thalassemia can vary, and some have visible symptoms, while others develop symptoms later in adolescence. Some of the most common symptoms are:
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For the diagnosis of thalassemia, our hematologists may recommend a full blood count (FBC). More accurate blood tests such as hemoglobin electrophoresis and red cell genotyping are necessary to clarify the diagnosis of thalassemia and determine the sub-group of thalassemia.
Depending on the type of thalassemia you are diagnosed with, treatment options may vary – some forms of thalassemia require no treatment at all. However, if you require treatment, our hematologists can recommend iron chelation, blood transfusions, bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood condition in which a blood clot forms in a blood vessel located deep in the body, usually in the leg or arm. This results in blood being completely or partially blocked through the vein, causing the affected limb to become painful, red and swollen.
Various factors increase your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. These include prolonged bed rest, rest or sitting for long periods, age, being overweight, smoking, cancer, heart failure, genetics, birth control pills and pregnancy.
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Ultrasound is typically used in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. It allows our hematologists to check if your blood is flowing normally through your veins.
The recommended treatment is an anticoagulant, a drug that thins the blood and prevents the clot from getting bigger and stopping it from causing rupture and pulmonary embolism. Blood clots will naturally dissolve in your body over time.
Pulmonary embolism refers to a condition in which a blood clot lodges in a blood vessel in the lung. A PE usually begins when a clot in a deep vein (also known as a deep vein thrombosis or DVT) breaks in a leg and flows into the lung. This can be a life-threatening condition if not treated quickly.
Some common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, and chest or upper back pain.
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The most common risk factors for pulmonary embolism include hereditary conditions (blood clotting disorders), being immobile for a long time, and a history of cancer or receiving chemotherapy.
Our hematologists can specify blood tests (including a test known as D-dimer), ECG, pulmonary angiogram, chest X-ray, and other diagnostic tests for pulmonary embolism.
Depending on the patient’s overall health, different options may be recommended for the treatment of pulmonary embolism. These include anticoagulant medications, compression stockings, and thrombolytic therapy.
You can find out more about pulmonary embolism, its treatment options, potential risks and side effects of anticoagulant medication here.
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Immune thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune disorder that creates a low platelet count that results in abnormal bleeding and bruising.
Immunocompromised patients with thrombocytopenia who have a platelet count greater than 50 may show no symptoms of the disease. A low platelet count is usually detected during a blood test in these cases. People with low platelet counts may develop symptoms such as petechiae (a sharp rash), bruising, purpura (purple spots on the skin), bleeding from the nose and gums, heavy menstrual periods and fatigue.
Immune risk factors include sex, which has been found to be more common in women, and diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Immunocompromised patients with thrombocytopenia who have a platelet count greater than 50 may show no symptoms of the disease. A low platelet count is usually detected during a blood test in these cases.
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Mild ITP patients do not usually require any active treatment. However, their platelet count should be monitored regularly. Treatment for ITP aims to lower the platelet count and suppress the body’s immune system to reduce destruction.
First-line treatments for ITP include steroids, such as prednisolone, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). These aids dampen the immune response and prevent destruction in the streets.
Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is one of the most common bleeding disorders that occurs due to low levels or improper functioning of Willebrand factor (vWF) in the blood.
Symptoms of vWD can be either very mild or very severe and frequent. Symptoms can begin at any age and include lumpy stools, blood in the urine and stool, and prolonged bleeding. Additionally, patients with vWD may experience symptoms similar to anemia, such as weakness and fatigue.
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To diagnose von Willebrand’s Disease, our hematologists may ask about your family history. Additionally, our doctor will perform a specific bruise and run a blood test to determine how your blood clot is looking.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for vWD. However, the condition can be controlled using drugs and other therapies such as antifibrinolytic agents, Desmopressin, and later therapies.
Hereditary red cell disorders are disorders that are passed down genetically. Two common types of inherited red cell disease are sickle cell disease and thalassemia. .
A genetic mutation causes thalassemia, and these mutations prevent normal hemoglobin production in the body. As mentioned, without sufficient hemoglobin, oxygen cannot be transferred to the rest of the body. Without enough oxygen, your organs will not be able to function properly. This can result in conditions such as spleen problems, heart problems, bone deformities, and both growth and development delays in children. .
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Treatment for thalassemia is usually blood transfusions and folic supplements. Stem
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