8 Types of Anemia and Their Symptoms that Need to be Known, from Mild to Severe

Kapanlagi.com - Anemia is a condition where there is a decrease in healthy red blood cells that can deliver oxygen and nutrients to the whole body, while these nutrients are essential for the body. This can result in reduced oxygen flow to the organs. As a result, a person with anemia may experience fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, or rapid heartbeat.

Anemia itself can occur temporarily or can persist for a long time with varying severity from mild to severe. Actually, there are many conditions that can cause a person to experience anemia, ranging from nutrient deficiencies to chronic diseases. However, some people are also born with genetic abnormalities that cause them to experience anemia.

It is also important to know that there are several identified types of anemia. These types of anemia are also distinguished based on their respective symptoms. It is important to know this so that the appropriate treatment and prevention measures can be determined. Well, because anemia requires different treatments, let's directly recognize each type of anemia as follows.

1. Thalassemia Anemia

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Thalassemia anemia is an inherited condition. Thalassemia occurs when the body produces abnormal hemoglobin. As a result, red blood cells cannot function properly and do not carry enough oxygen. Abnormal blood cells are caused by genetic mutations or the loss of certain important genes in blood production. Symptoms of moderate or severe thalassemia include growth problems, enlarged spleen, bone problems, and jaundice.

2. Types of Hereditary Spherocytosis Anemia

Similar to thalassemia anemia, hereditary spherocytosis anemia is also inherited within families, usually from parents to children. Hereditary spherocytosis is characterized by abnormal red blood cells called spherocytes that are thin and fragile. These cells cannot change shape to pass through certain organs, like normal red blood cells.

As a result, these cells stay in the spleen longer and eventually get destroyed. The destruction of these red blood cells can cause anemia. In cases of pressure on the body due to infection, it can cause jaundice. In some cases, it can even temporarily halt the production of blood cells in the bone marrow.

3. Types of Congenital Pernicious Anemia

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Next, the type of anemia is congenital pernicious anemia. This type of anemia is rare. The disease is caused by a person's congenital abnormality, which is the inability to produce intrinsic factor (a protein in the stomach that helps absorb vitamin B12).

However, vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells to meet the required amount. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to complications, memory loss, enlarged liver, and nerve damage.

4. Types of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type. This condition causes a lack of iron in the body. Usually, the causes of this type of anemia are pregnancy, menstruation, side effects of medications, and certain diseases such as intestinal inflammation.

The symptoms of this type of anemia include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat. The treatment for this type of anemia is to consume iron supplements or foods rich in iron.

5. Aplastic Anemia

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Aplastic anemia occurs when there is damage to the bone marrow, which prevents the body from producing red blood cells optimally. However, the bone marrow is the source that produces blood components such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

This condition is believed to be triggered by infections, autoimmune diseases, exposure to toxic chemicals, and side effects of antibiotic medications. The treatment for aplastic anemia includes blood transfusion, taking immune system suppressant drugs, stem cell transplantation, antibiotics, and antivirals.

6. Type of Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia will prevent the bone marrow from producing enough new blood cells for the body. This condition can be inherited in families from generation to generation. The symptoms of Fanconi anemia include birth defects involving (kidneys, hands, feet, spine, vision, hearing), low birth weight, difficulty eating, delayed growth, small head, fatigue.

Most people with Fanconi anemia are diagnosed between the ages of 2-15. Suffering from Fanconi anemia can increase the risk of certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, tumors in the mouth or throat, and reproductive organ cancer.

7. Type of Hemolytic Anemia

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Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are produced. This condition can be inherited from parents or acquired after birth due to blood cancer, bacterial or viral infections, and autoimmune diseases. This disease needs to be treated to prevent complications in the heart, such as heart rhythm disorders or heart failure.

The symptoms of this disease include dizziness, pale skin, easy fatigue, fever, dark-colored urine, yellowing skin, and palpitations. Some causes of hemolytic anemia can be cured by treating the underlying cause. However, hemolytic anemia can also occur chronically, especially when caused by genetic factors.

8. Types of Sickle Cell Anemia

Someone who has sickle cell anemia causes hemoglobin to form abnormally. In normal circumstances, red blood cells are round and flexible, making it easy for them to move through blood vessels. However, in this type of anemia, the red blood cells are sickle-shaped, rigid, and easily stick to small blood vessels. As a result, red blood cells cannot carry oxygen properly and are prone to breaking.

This condition should not be taken lightly as it can lead to stroke, heart attack, swelling in the hands and feet, and a decrease in the body's ability to fight infections. The symptoms of this disease include yellowing of the skin, fever, swollen abdomen, severe pain in the abdomen, chest, and bones.

Those are a series of anemia types that you need to know. By knowing the types of anemia, you can take preventive measures promptly. I hope this information is useful.

(kpl/dtm)