Anaemia

Differential diagnosis

• Malignancy
• Ulcers
• Haemoglobinopathy
• Ulcers
• Menorrhagia
• Diet

Data gathering

• Red flags – chest pain, blood in stools, change in bowel habit, weight loss, blood in urine, bruising, bone pains
• Others – periods, vegan, NSAIDs
• Examine – CVS, abdo, eyes, nails, pulse, BP

Clinical management

• Investigations
  • Bloods – FBC, U+Es, LFTs, TFTs, ferritin, B12, folate, blood film, Hb electrophoresis, coeliac

• Explanation
  • red blood cells carry oxygen in the body using a substance called haemoglobin. If you don’t have enough red blood cells or enough haemoglobin, you have anaemia.

• Treatment
  • Assess cause – menorrhagia, NSAIDs, iron/b12 deficiency, blood loss, haemoglobinopathy
  • Increase dietary iron – red meat, green vegetables, pulses
  • Ferrous sulphate 200mg BD
  • B12 injections
  • Refer if:
    • Unexplained
    • Hb < 7