Aplastic anemia is a condition whereby the bone marrow manufactures insufficient amounts of platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A deficiency in these three cell lines can lead to multiple symptoms. Aplastic anemia can be caused by different medications for cancer, radiotherapy, or a genetic condition. Aplastic anemia has many acute symptoms that can be life threatening. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of this disease is imperative to increase the survival of the patient.
Symptoms of Red Blood Cell Deficiency
Some symptoms of acute aplastic anemia are caused by the lack of red blood cells associated with the disease. Symptoms of red blood cell deficiency, or anemia, include fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, irregular heartbeat, and dizziness, states the Mayo Clinic. All of these symptoms are directly caused by the depletion of functioning red blood cells. Without red blood cells, the body is unable to transport oxygen to the various organs including the lungs, heart, skin, and brain. If these symptoms develop within a few hours or days, then they are signs of acute aplastic anemia.
Multiple Infections
Patients with acute aplastic anemia can develop a severe deficiency of white blood cells. White blood cells combat bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Aplastic anemia, therefore, can lead to an increase in the patient's risk of infection, reports Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. Patients will develop uncommon diseases that would normally be fought off by their white blood cells. One of the more common infections among these patients is oral thrush, which is a fungal infection that coats the inside of the mouth and tongue with a whitish film.
Excessive Bleeding
Platelets are the cells that clot the blood and aid in wound healing. Aplastic anemia causes a deficiency of these cells and this can cause bleeding problems, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Signs of bleeding disorders include easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and wounds that take a longer time to heal. Without platelets, even small wounds tend to bleed excessively and take longer to clot. Doctors can test for this condition using various blood exams. If a patient is diagnosed with bleeding problems and a decreased platelet count, then he should be tested for aplastic anemia.
