PRINCESS DURRU SHEHVAR COLLEGE OF NURSING

B.Sc NURSING 2ND YEAR ONLINE COACHING

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING – I
ANEMIA
Anemia is a condition in which you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate
oxygen to your tissues. Having anemia may make you feel exhausted.
There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Loss of blood is the most common cause
of anemia. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to moderate.
Causes:
1. Increased loss of RBC’s.
2. Increased need for haemoglobin or RBC.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Decreased activity of bone marrow.
Chemotherapy medications.

3. Increased destruction of RBC in the blood.

Risk factors:
 A diet lacking in vitamin and iron.
 Intestinal disorders.
 Pregnanacy
 Menstruation
 Chronic diseases.
 Family history.

Symptoms:
People with anemia appear pale and may often complain of being cold.
They may also experience:

 lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when active or standing up

 unusual cravings, such as wanting to eat ice, clay, or dirt
 trouble concentrating or tiredness
 constipation

Some types of anemia can cause inflammation of the tongue, resulting in a smooth, glossy, red, and
often painful tongue.

If anemia is severe, fainting may occur. Other symptoms include:

 brittle nails
 shortness of breath
  chest pains

Blood oxygen levels can be so low that a person with severe anemia can have a heart attack.

If you get a physical exam and you have anemia, your results may show:

 high or low blood pressure

 pale skin
 jaundice
 an increased heart rate
 a heart murmur
 enlarged lymph nodes
 an enlarged spleen or liver
 atrophic glossitis of tongue

People with signs or symptoms of anemia should seek medical attention, especially if fainting or
chest pains occur.

Types of anemia:
1. Iron deficiency anemia:
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, and it occurs when your body
doesn’t have enough of the mineral iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. When
there isn’t enough iron in your blood stream, the rest of your body can’t get the amount of
oxygen it needs.
2. Vitamin deficiency anemia
In addition to iron your body needs folate and vitamin B 12 to produce sufficient no of
healthy Red Blood Cells.

3. Anemia of chronic disease:

Certain chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, Rheumatoid artritis, crohn’s disease, and
other chronic inflammatory diseases, can interfere with the production of red blood cells
resulting in chronic anemia. Renal failure also can cause anemia.
4. Aplastic anemia:
Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new
blood cells. The condition leaves you fatigued and more prone to infections and
uncontrolled bleeding.
5. Hemolytic anemia:
Haemolytic anemia is a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can
be made. The destruction of red blood cells is called hemolysis.
6. Sickle cell anemia:
 Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of disorders known as sickle cell disease. Sickle cell
anemia is an inherited red blood cell disorder in which there aren't enough healthy red
blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body.

Diagnosis
 Complete blood count (CBC). The CBC blood test shows the number and size of the red
blood cells. It also shows if levels of other blood cells like white blood cells and platelets are
normal.

 Serum iron levels. This blood test shows if iron deficiency is the cause of anemia.
 Ferritin test. This blood test analyzes iron stores.
 Vitamin B-12 test. This blood test shows vitamin B-12 levels and helps your doctor
determine if they’re too low.
 Folic acid test. This blood test reveals if serum folate levels are low.
 Stool test for occult blood. This test applies a chemical to a stool specimen to see if blood is
present. If the test is positive, it means that blood is being lost somewhere in the
gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the rectum. Problems like stomach
ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and colon cancer can cause blood in stool.

complications of anemia

Most cases of iron deficiency anemia are mild and don’t cause complications. The condition can
usually be corrected easily. However, if anemia or iron deficiency is left untreated, it can lead to
other health problems. These include:

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

When you’re anemic, your heart has to pump more blood to make up for the low amount of oxygen.
This can lead to irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, it can lead to heart failure or an enlarged heart.

Pregnancy complications
In severe cases of iron deficiency, a child may be born prematurely or with a low birth weight. Most
pregnant women take iron supplements as part of their prenatal care to prevent this from
happening.

Delayed growth in infants and children

Infants and children who are severely deficient in iron may experience delayed growth and
development. They may also be more prone to infections.

Treatment:
Anemia treatment depends on the cause.

 Iron deficiency anemia. Treatment for this form of anemia usually involves taking iron
supplements and changing your diet.

If the cause of iron deficiency is loss of blood — other than from menstruation — the source of
the bleeding must be located and the bleeding stopped. This might involve surgery.

 Vitamin deficiency anemias. Treatment for folic acid and vitamin C deficiency involves
dietary supplements and increasing these nutrients in your diet.

If your digestive system has trouble absorbing vitamin B-12 from the food you eat, you might
need vitamin B-12 shots. At first, you might have the shots every other day. Eventually, you'll
need shots just once a month, possibly for life, depending on your situation.

 Anemia of chronic disease. There's no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors
focus on treating the underlying disease. If symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or
injections of a synthetic hormone normally produced by your kidneys (erythropoietin) might
help stimulate red blood cell production and ease fatigue.

 Aplastic anemia. Treatment for this anemia can include blood transfusions to boost levels of
red blood cells. You might need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow can't make
healthy blood cells.

 Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of these various diseases can
include medication, chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.

 Hemolytic anemias. Managing hemolytic anemias includes avoiding suspect medications,

treating infections and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which could be
attacking your red blood cells.
 Depending on the cause or your hemolytic anemia, you might be referred to a heart or
vascular specialist.

 Sickle cell anemia. Treatment might include oxygen, pain relievers, and oral and intravenous
fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors might also recommend blood
transfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics.

Prevention

When caused by inadequate iron intake, iron deficiency anemia can be prevented by eating a diet
high in iron-rich foods and vitamin C. Mothers should make sure to feed their babies breast milk or
iron-fortified infant formula.

Foods high in iron include:

 meat, such as lamb, pork, chicken, and beef

 beans
 pumpkin and squash seeds
 leafy greens, such as spinach
 raisins and other dried fruit
 eggs
 seafood, such as clams, sardines, shrimp, and oysters
 iron-fortified dry and instant cereals

Foods high in vitamin C include:

 fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, kiwis, guavas, papayas, pineapples, melons,
and mangoes
 broccoli
 red and green bell peppers
 Brussels sprouts
 cauliflower
 tomatoes
 leafy greens
 PRINCESS DURRU SHEHVAR COLLEGE OF NURSING
B.Sc NURSING 2ND YEAR ONLINE COACHING
COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING – I
MARKS: 25
10X2 1/2=25
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. whatis the anemia?
2. What are the causes of anemia?
3. List out the risk factors of anemia?
4. Describe the types of anemia?
5. What are the symptoms of anemia?
6. How anemia is diagnosed?
7. Explain the treatment of anemia?
8. What are the complications of anemia?
9. List out foods rich in iron.
10. List out foods rich in vitamin C.