Anemia Treatment

Treatment of anemia depends on the cause :

Iron deficiency anemia. Form of anemia is treated with iron supplements, which you have to drink for several months or more. If the cause of iron deficiency blood loss other than from menstruation the source of bleeding should be identified and stopped. This may involve surgery.

Vitamin deficiency anemia. Pernicious anemia treated with injections often lifetime injection of vitamin B-12. Folic acid deficiency anemia treated with folic acid supplements.

Anemia of chronic disease. There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. Iron supplements and vitamin generally do not help this type of anemia. However, if symptoms become severe, blood transfusions or injections of synthetic erythropoietin, a hormone normally produced by the kidneys, may help stimulate red blood cell production and reduce fatigue.

Aplastic anemia. Treatment for anemia may include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells. You may needa bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow of diseased and unable to make healthy blood cells. You may need immune-suppressing drugs to reduce your immune system and provide an opportunity transplanted bone marrow responds to begin functioning again.

Anemia associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of various diseases can range from simple medication to chemotherapy to bone marrow trasplantation.

Anemia hemolytic. Managing hemolytic anemia include avoiding certain medications, treating related infecctions and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which can invade red blood cells. Brief treatment with steroids, immunosuppressant drugs or gamma globulin can help suppress the immune system attacks the red blood cells.

Sickle cell anemia. Treatment for anemia may include giving oxygen, pain relief medication, both oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors also commonly use blood trnsfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics. Bone marrow transplantation may be an effective treatment in some circumstanes. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) also is used to treat sickle cell anemia in adults.

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