Anemia
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WHO anaemia fact sheet causes diagnosis treatment
Anemia is a condition in which the blood has too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin, reducing oxygen delivery to tissues. It can cause fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath on exertion, dizziness, palpitations, headache, or pale skin. WHO overview
Common causes include:
- Iron deficiency: often from heavy menstrual bleeding, pregnancy, low dietary intake, or gastrointestinal blood loss
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
- Chronic inflammation or kidney disease
- Blood loss, acute or chronic
- Inherited disorders, such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease
- Bone-marrow disorders or red-cell destruction
Assessment usually starts with a complete blood count (CBC), especially hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), then tests guided by the pattern, such as ferritin/iron studies, B12, folate, reticulocyte count, kidney function, and evaluation for bleeding.
Do not self-treat all anemia with iron. Iron is helpful only when iron deficiency is confirmed or strongly suspected; taking it unnecessarily can delay finding the real cause.
Seek urgent care for chest pain, fainting, severe breathlessness, black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, very heavy bleeding, or symptoms after trauma.
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