Understanding anaemia – symptoms and treatment

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of anaemia vary according to the type of anaemia, the underlying cause, and any underlying health problems. Anaemia may be associated with other medical conditions such as haemorrhage, ulcers, menstrual problems or cancer, so it is possible that specific symptoms of those conditions may be noticed first.

The body also has a remarkable ability to compensate for early anaemia. If your anaemia is mild or has developed over a long period of time, you may not notice any symptoms.

Symptoms common to many types of anaemia include the following:

• Easy fatigue and loss of energy
• Unusually rapid heartbeat, particularly with exercise
• Shortness of breath and headache, particularly with exercise
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
• Pale skin
• Leg cramps
• Insomnia

Other symptoms are associated with specific forms of anaemia.

Anaemia caused by iron deficiency:

• Hunger or craving for strange substances such as paper, ice, or dirt (a condition called pica)
• Upward curvature of the nails, referred to as koilonychia
• Soreness of the mouth with cracks at the corners
• A smooth or sore tongue

With iron deficiency anaemia your doctor may recommend iron supplements that contain the ferrous form of iron, which your body can absorb easily. Always consult with your doctor before taking iron supplements. Excess iron intake can be harmful. Symptoms of iron overload include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, irritability and joint problems.

Anaemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency:

• A tingling, "pins and needles" sensation in the hands or feet
• Loss of sense of touch
• An unsteady, wobbly gait and difficulty walking
• Clumsiness and stiffness of the arms and legs
• Dementia
• Hallucinations, paranoia and schizophrenia

For vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency anaemia, the treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. If your body stores are depleted of vitamin B-12, your doctor is most likely to prescribe vitamin B-12 injections. If the vitamin B12 levels are borderline low then your doctor may try oral tablets in a high dose first to see your response. There is a good chance that many of the symptoms associated with this type of deficiency will improve very quickly once the body is provided with the needed B-12.

Anaemia caused by chronic lead poisoning:

• A blue-black line on the gums referred to as a lead line
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Seizures in severe cases, especially in children

Lead poisoning is treated by discontinuing exposure to lead and administering a medicine that binds and draws lead out of the body. Where the household is suspected as the source of lead poisoning, calling the local environmental health department is essential. Old lead water piping used to be a problem in older houses.

Anaemia caused by chronic red blood cell destruction (haemolysis):

• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
• Brown or red urine
• Leg ulcers
• Failure to thrive in infancy
• Symptoms of gallstones