Anaemia
Anaemia is a condition characterised by a low concentration of haemoglobin in red blood cells. Anaemia can manifest in multiple forms, including; iron deficiency, thalassaemia, pernicious, sideroblastic anaemia etc. The symptoms of anaemia range from fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath
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Hemolysis [1]
Aneurysms or hemorrhage [2]
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Parasitic infections eg malaria, hookworm
Viral infections eg. HIV or parvovirus B19 [1]
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Bone marrow cancers eg. leukemia, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic
Tumours [3]
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Chemotherapy drugs
Certain antibiotics can lead to hemolysis or bone marrow suppression.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [1]
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Surgical procedures
Radiation therapy [1]
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Sickle cell disease
Thalassemias [1]
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Autoimmune hemolytic anemia [1]
Systemic Lupus Erythematous [4]
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Physical injury leading to acute blood loss.
Repeated mechanical injury; eg. repetitive foot strikes in long-distance runners (march hemoglobinuria).
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Hypothyroidism
Chronic kidney disease
Iron deficiency [1]
Iron deficient anaemia with pruritis (itchiness) on brown skin
Source: DermNetNZ
Anaemia manifested under the eye on black and brown skin
Source: Roychowdhury S et al. Azure-Based Smart Monitoring System for Anemia-Like Pallor. Future Internet. 2017; 9(3):39. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi9030039
Paleness of the hands on black skin in anaemia
Source: Institute of Child Health UNHCR
Anaemia manifested in the eye on black skin
Source: Institute of Child Health UNHCR
[1] https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/hemolytic-anemia
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-24591-x#:~:text=Anemia%20is%20a%20common%2C%20treatable,severity%20of%20anemia%20in%20SAH.
[3] https://www.uptodate.com/contents/causes-of-anemia-in-patients-with-cancer#:~:text=Anemia%20frequently%20complicates%20the%20course,and%20limiting%20their%20daily%20activity.
[4] https://www.elsevier.es/en-revista-revista-colombiana-reumatologia-374-articulo-pathogenic-role-erythropoietine-in-egyptian-S0121812319300465#:~:text=Systemic%20lupus%20erythematosus%20is%20an,to%20the%20occurrence%20of%20anemia.
