UNIT 3 HEMATOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY Flashcards
What is anemia?
Reduction in RBC mass and/or hemoglobin concentration
Decrease in the Hgb available to carry o2 to cell.
What are the 3 main causes of anemia?
- Inadequate production of RBC’s
- Increased destruction of RBC’s
- Excessive loss of RBC’s (trauma related)
What are the s/s of anemia?
- Tired
- Cold
- Increased HR
- Tachypnea
- Cool
- Poor circulation (blue extremities)
- Prolonged cap refill
- Pale
What is the last stage of development for a RBC?
Reticulocyte
What is the life span of a RBC?
120 days
What is the “homeostatic balance” of a RBC?
RBC production = RBC destruction
RBC transports …..
Hemoglobin–> o2 to cells
What lab can be drawn to look at what the body is doing during an anemic state?
Retic count
An increased Retic count tells us what?
There is an increased production of RBCs
What should we know about fetal hgb?
- Fetal hgb and oxygen has a super magnegtic charge
- This is important because as you age your body stops producing fetal hgb. However, in some disease like sickle cell and beta thalassemia major the body may continue to produce fetal hgb into adulthood to help with chronic anemia
What regulates the production of RBC’s
- Tissue oxygenation
- Renal production of erythropoietin
- Erythropoietin is produced by the kidneys. If kidney damage occurs erthropoietin which is an extra layer on top of anemia
What happens as a RBC ages?
- The membrane ruptures
- Hgb is boken down
- Fe containing pigment (hemosiderin)–> most reused in bone marrow for RBC production
- Bile pigment (bilirubin)
- Excreted by the live in bile
What is a sign of too many RBC’s being broken down?
Free flow iron in the blood– too much can lead to organ dysfunciton with a direct impact on the brain.
Where is excess iron stored?
Liver
What might we see on our assessment of a child with anemia?
- Pallor
- fatigue
- weakness
- tachycardia
- increased resp. rate
- Dizziness (not enough o2 carried by hgb)
- headache (brains way of signaling the need for o2 carried by hgb)
- irritability
In severe anemia– hyperventilation
Children with anemia are prone too…..
- Infection
- Infections made worse by anemia
What are normal hgb ranges for a newborn?
14-24
What are normal hgb ranges for an infant?
10-17
What are normal hgb levels for a child?
9.5-15.5
What are normal hgb levels for a adolescent?
12-18
What is iron deficiency anemia (IDA)?
Hgb levels below normal range because of body’s inadequate supply, intake, or absorption of iron
What do they believe is the cause of IDA?
Iron Deficiency Anemia
May be caused by
1. inadequate iron stores during fetal development, 2. deficient dietary intake
3. Chronic blood loss,
4. Poor utilization of iron by body
What happens in the 3rd trimester of preganancy that is related to iron?
The third trimester is when moms iron storage is transferred to baby.
If a baby is born preterm they will not recieve the iron storage from mom putting them at risk for being anemic
What children are at highest risk of developing IDA?
- Preterm infants, multiple births
- Mother has iron deficiecny
- infants 6-24 months
- Growth spurt
- toddlers
- Picky Eaters
- Female adolescents
- Menses, growth spurt, diet