Condition - Anaemia

Question 1

Clinical features

Answer 1

Symptoms (non-specific):
Fatigue
Breathlessness
Palpitations
Exacerbation of cardio-respiratory problems (angina, claudication)

Signs (non-specific):
Pallor
Tachycardia
Systolic murmur
Cardiac failure

Signs (specific):
Koilonychia - iron deficiency
Jaundice - haemolytic anaemia
Bone deformities - thalassaemia
Leg ulcers - sickle cell

Question 2

Investigation

Answer 2

FBC
Blood film
Investigate causes (eg. internal bleeding)

Question 3

Treatment

Answer 3

Supplementation of any deficiencies.

There WILL be an underlying cause, eg. coeliac disease (malnutrition), chronic kidney disease (reduced erythropoietin), sickle cell (haemolytic).

Treat the underlying cause.

Question 4

Aetiology

Answer 4

Decreased haemoglobin levels or altered haemoglobin resulting in poor oxygen transport.

Multiple causes:
Blood loss - trauma, GI bleed, menorrhagia
Haemolytic - malaria, sickle cell
Production - chronic disease, iron/B12/folate deficiency, thalassaemia