Megaloblastic Anemia Is a Blood Disorder in Essay

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Megaloblastic anemia is a blood disorder in which there is anemia with larger than normal red blood cells. Anemia is a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells which are necessary for providing oxygen to body tissue (ADAM 2011). The common feature in megaloblastic conditions is a defect in DNA synthesis when cells are rapidly dividing. It associated with another condition which is known as pernicious anemia, a condition that is caused when not enough B12 vitamins are absorbed into the intestines and leads to a decrease in red cells. These dysfunctional red blood cells are found in the bone marrow of afflicted patients.

Etiology: People over the age of 60, those who have eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia nervosa, those with cancer can get the condition. Smoking and drinking are factors which contribute to megaloblastic anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency, alcoholism, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, malabsorption, folate deficiency, inherited pyrimidine synthesis disorders, inherited DNA synthesis disorders, nitrous oxide and other drugs, or erythroleukemia (Zimran & Hershko 1983). Other causes for the condition include people who have had stomach surgeries, especially in cases where parts of the stomach have been removed in the surgery. Also, according to scientists and medical professionals, some people who have a deficiency of vitamin B12 have it because of conditions which slow down the movement of food through the intestines such as diabetes, scleroderma, strictures, or diverticulitis.

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This means that bacteria are allowed to multiply in the intestinal tract and overgrow in the upper parts of the small intestine. Some people who have deficiencies in their diet because they cannot eat certain things or because they do not wish to eat certain things can also lead to megaloblastic anemia. For example, people who are vegans can develop vitamin deficiencies because they do not eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy.

Incidence / Epidemiology: Megaloblastic anemia affects less than 200,000 people in the United States (Prevalence 2011). About 1 in 7500 patients develops the condition over time. The condition occurs mostly in pregnant women and their fetuses or in people over the age of 70. About 1 in 4,000 Americans over the age of 70 has megaloblastic anemia.

Symptoms and/or Physical Signs: B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, and pernicious anemia. Specific symptoms of the condition include: difficulty breathing during exertion of energy, dizziness, fatigue, fainting, muscle weakness, pale skin, heart palpitations, and mouth or tongue pain. Other less common symptoms include: abdominal pain in both the upper and lower abdomen, diarrhea, numbness in the hands, pain in the chest, headaches, insomnia, tinnitus, loss of sexual interest, rapid breathing, pain of the mouth or tongue, swelling of the tongue, and unintentional….....

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