Common Paediatric Anaemias

Question 1

a red cell is equivalent in size to what other cell structure in the film?

Answer 1

the nucleus of the a small mature lymphocyte

Question 2

the body wants to absorb/excrete iron

Answer 2

absorb

there is no proper excretion mechanism

Question 3

how much iron is eaten per day on average?

Answer 3

10-20mg

Question 4

how much iron is absorbed per day?

Answer 4

1-2mg

Question 5

why does iron need to be bound to transferrin?

Answer 5

it is toxic

Question 6

iron is absorbed where?

Answer 6

duodenum

Question 7

once in the bloodstream, what happens to iron?

Answer 7

binds to transferrin and goes to the bone marrow, liver, muscle and other structures to be stored

Question 8

main blood test for iron deficiency?

Answer 8

ferritin NOT serum iron

Question 9

how can you excrete iron?

Answer 9

menstruation

skin shedding

Question 10

what other blood cell can rapidly increase in response to low iron levels?

Answer 10

platelets

Question 11

why do thalassaemic patients have problems with oxygenation?

Answer 11

poor globin chains dont release O2 from the haem part

Question 12

Ix lead poisoning

Answer 12

bloods for lead

Question 13

why does a transfusion help in thalassaemia?

Answer 13

it would settle the hyperactive BM

Question 14

what is a spherocyte?

Answer 14

a red cell with a spherical shape (lacks flexibility)

Question 15

what does the spleen do to red blood cells

Answer 15

destroys abnormal RBCs

Question 16

implications of having spherocyte RBCs

Answer 16

lack of surface area to volume ratio

more prone to apoptosis

Question 17

triggers for spherocytosis?

Answer 17

infection

look in the Hx for a recent cold/infection

Question 18

inheritance for spherocytosis?

Answer 18

AD

Question 19

Ix hereditary spherocytosis

Answer 19

coombs test to rule out antibody causes
blood film to check for spherocytes
look for FHx