Anemia part 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of Anemia?
It means a reduction of RBCs or hemoglobin.
What are the 3 main causes of anemia?
Not enough RBCs being made
Too many RBCs are being destroyed
A lot of RBC’s are being loses (from bleeding)
How are symptoms of anemia organized?
Certain groups of symptoms go with whichever reason is the main cause of anemia.
Not enough RBCs being made Symptoms
Pallor due to no coloring from rbc
Tachycardia for compensation
Fatigue bc of no 02
Muscle Weakness bc of no 02
Systolic murmur due to compensation
Too many RBCs being destroyed Symptoms
Jaundice/sclera from breakdown of rbc Tachycardia Dark urine from bilirubin excretion Splenomegaly Hepatomegaly Low blood pressure from shock Frontal bossing (large forehead) from more bone activity
Losing RBCs from bleeding Symptoms
Pallor
Tachycardia
Fatigue
Muscle Weakness
Cool skin due to no circulation
Decreased peripheral pulses bc of a lack of volume
(basically the same as not making enough rbcs)
What is iron deficiency anemia?
How prevalent is this?
When you don’t have enough iron to produce hemoglobin for oxygen transference to the parts of your body
Most prevalent nutritional disorder in the US
What age do iron stores from mom deplete in infants? What are the implications?
5-6 months
At this monthly age, we will start to supplement or this is around the time parents introduce solid foods to babies.
T/F
Term babies have less iron stores than preterm ones
What are the implications?
False!
The preterm infants are the ones who will have even less iron stores to last them.
They’ll need iron supplementation way before the term baby since they most likely can’t eat solid foods yet .
Good examples of food with iron to give infants?
Riced cereal
Vegetables with leafy greens
- Helps if they eat it with something acidic due to vit C
Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia
Similar to when not enough RBC’s are being made Symptoms
Pallor Underweight Overweight (if only feeding them milk is the reason they aren't getting iron) Edema Delayed growth
When diagnosing iron deficiency anemia, what will rbc count look like?
Either normal or just moderately reduced.
But the size, shape, and color of rbcs is what is important.
What tests can they do to check for iron deficiency anemia?
Increased TIBC or total blood iron capacity.
And decreased SIC or serum iron concentration (highest in morning)
Retc ct normal but Si is reduced
What age do infants get routinely diagnosed for iron deficiency anemia?
What time of day should they do the tests?
6 months - 1 years old
In the morning
How do they focus on managing the iron deficiency anemia?
Will focus on prevention and nutrition by giving infant food with iron fortification as early on as possible.
Can give iron supplement of ferrous sulfate too
How do you avoid an overweight iron deficient anemic, milk baby?
Educate mom to pull back on breast feeding around 5-6 months and give solid foods
How do you know an iron supplement is working when treating iron deficiency anemia?
The poop will darken & this is good!
How to give an infant an iron supplement?
Child?
What if the iron deficiency is severe?
Orally by using a syringe to place in buccal area for absorption
Child can drink liquid iron with orange juice
If severe, they can give IV
- check for infiltration and necrosis of the site
What do we need to educate parents about iron supplementation?
Retic ct increase?
Hemoglobin?
There could be iron staining, Gi irritation, constipation
Retic increase after 1 week
hgb/hct after 1 month needs to be increased
How much milk should an infant have after 1 yr to prevent iron deficiency?
Is an overweight baby healthy?
24 oz
Nope not always. Could just be a milk baby
What is sickle cell anemia?
Adult hemoglobin changing shape to abnormal hemoglobin and causing a clump effect since the cell can’t move around as efficiently.
Can you tell if an infant has sickle cell anemia?
No due to the infant hemoglobin having the same Beta chain
IDK IF THIS IS TRUE
What triggers the sickle cell anemia change?
Dehydration - mucous membranes, skin dryness & replace fluids
Acidosis - check blood gases
Hypoxia - perfusion & o2. Do they need an order for oxygen?
Temperature elevation - temp
Need to treat the cause first so you can reverse it.
Can the shape change of the cell in sickle cell anemia be reversed?
Yes - but remember you have to have the gene in the first place. We just have to change the precipitant factor.