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