About Anemia

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Overview

Anemia is a condition where red blood cells are unable to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues to meet the physiological needs of the body. Anemia is a major health problem globally as well as for India, affecting 1.62 billion people out of which 56 million are pregnant women.

This condition can also be defined as lower level of hemoglobin concentration, reduced other hematocrit and number of RBCs (Red blood cells).

In pregnant woman i.e. 15-49 years of age, prevalence of anemia is 50.3%. In anemia other than pregnant women, adolescent girls and young children are also at high risk leading to increase numbers of mortality and morbidities.

Types of anemia

There are various types and classifications of anemia. Anemia is due to the various red cell defects such as:

  • Production defect – Aplastic anemia
  • Maturation defect – Megaloblastic anemia
  • Defects in haemoglobin synthesis – Iron deficiency anemia
  • Genetic defects of haemoglobin maturation – Thalassemia
  • synthesis of abnormal haemoglobin – Hemoglobinopathies, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia)
  • Physical loss of red cells – Hemolytic anemia
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Hemoglobin levels to diagnose anemia (g/dl)

Mild anemia corresponds to a level of hemoglobin concentration of 10.0-10.9 g/dl for pregnant women and children under age 5 and 10.0-11.9 g/dl for nonpregnant women. For all of the tested groups, moderate anemia corresponds to a level of 7.0-9.9 g/dl, while severe anemia corresponds to a level less than 7.0 g/dl.

  • Mild :
  • Moderate:
  • Severe:
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Total Tested

43158

Age Group (15-18 years)

10616

Age Group (18-21 years)

9908

Age Group (21-25 years)

22634

Sign and symptoms of anemia

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