Awareness of grave conditions of aplastic anaemia

Among numerous fatal diseases, aplastic anaemia (AA) is a lethal bone marrow failure syndrome. If this medical condition does not get attention immediately, there is chances human loss. It can be said that this dangerous disease is related with high mortality rate.

According to health reports, severe Aplastic Anaemia is an unusual, non-contagious and possibly deadly disease that happens due to baffling failure of the bone marrow to release red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. When patients have considerably low amount of these blood cells in body, they are at great risk of bleeding, fatigue and infections.

Statistical reports indicated that severe Aplastic Anaemia affects 2- 6 people per million at global scale. It is widespread in Asian countries and mostly adults are affected with this lethal disorder.

Major grounds of developing Aplastic Anaemia in humans:

In medical science, causes of Aplastic Anaemia are not recognized and labelled as idiopathic. Aplastic Anaemia can be inherit a faulty gene but it is rare case. Many medical experts believe that in most cases of this disease, it is acquired. This means, it is not transmitted through genes. Idiopathic Acquired Severe Aplastic Anaemia occurs due to an immune in which body’s immune cells become disordered and attack body tissue without any reason.

Some medical researchers stated that some kind of toxins, drugs or illness or infections of patients may trigger Severe Aplastic Anaemia. For drugs such as anti-cancer drugs, immune uppressants, given for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and some antibiotics may cause Aplastic Anaemia.

Other possible causes of Aplastic Anaemia include stem cell defects, immune medicated inhibition of hemopoiesis and an abnormal bone marrow micro environment.

Main symptoms of Aplastic Anaemia:

Patients who gripped under Aplastic Anaemia exhibit following symptoms:

1.   Tiredness

2.   Paleness

3.   Shortness of breath on exertion

4.   Rapid heat beat, infections

5.   Rash

6.   Easy bruising

7.   Bleeding gums

8.   Prolonged bleeding

Diagnostic tests for Aplastic Anaemia:

-      First test to diagnose Aplastic Anaemia is a blood test to count the different types of blood cells and the haemoglobin level of patients.

-      Secondly, doctors advise Bone Marrow Biopsy in which a small quantity of marrow from inside the bone is taken under the supervision of General Anaesthetic. If the bone marrow is lacking most or all of the normal cells, Consultant Haematologists diagnose it as an Aplastic Anaemia.

-      Another test is Chromosome analysis.

Treatment options for Aplastic Anaemia:

There are different types of treatment suggested by doctors for Aplastic Anaemia:

1. Supportive therapy through transfusions, treatment of infection: Patients who have serious Aplastic Anaemia are advised to choose this treatment. They are provided transfusion support of red cell and platelet till complete diagnosis is made and doctors select specific treatment to cure the disease.

2. Immunosuppressive therapy: Under this treatment, patients are given drugs which suppress the immune system. Special antibodies called ATG (anti-thymocyte globin) are used. These antibodies have property to decrease the activity of the lymphocytes which attack the bone marrow cells. But this therapy respond slowly.

3. Bone marrow transplantation: It is a major treatment technique to cure Aplastic Anaemia. But in Bone marrow transplantation, there are chances of illness or even death of patients.

Figure: It show bony spicules and marrow in section of bone marrow core biopsy (Source: John P. Greer, 2009)

Figure: It shows morphologic details of hematopoitic tissue with in section (Source: John P. Greer, 2009)

Preventive measures:

Best way to keep away from lethal disease is to take preventive actions and maintain healthy lifestyle. People can prevent aplastic anemia through by circumventing exposure to toxins, radiation and medications that can trigger the disease. People must get the hepatitis B vaccine to avoid infection. HIV and hepatitis B can be prevented through safe sex and avoid consuming intravenous drugs.

Important notes for people who have Aplastic Anaemia: 

If a person is exposed to deadly disease Aplastic Anaemia, he/she must be alert and espoused some preventive life style to breath with it.

Patients with Aplastic Anaemia must avoid sporting ports to evade injuries and bleeding.

They have to maintain hygiene such as regularly wash hands.

It is advised to avoid busy and heavy traffic places.

Recommended diet for patients of Aplastic Anaemia:

Doctors advise that patients of Aplastic Anaemia must consume vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legume to get fibre, protein, and energy.

It is good to eat food of a plant origin.

Patients must Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.

To wrap up, human health is of prime importance and people must take care to prevent from deadly ailment like Aplastic Anaemia. This disease has serious consequences and may be fatal in some cases.