Megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency due to impaired absorption. The impaired absorption of vitamin B-12 is secondary to atrophic gastritis and loss of gastric parietal cells.
Symptoms of Pernicious Anaemia
The following features are indicative of Pernicious Anaemia:
chest pain
feeling tired
shortness of breath
pale skin
a smooth red tongue
numbness in the hands and feet
poor reflexes
poor balance
confusion
depression
loss of appetite
desire to eat ice or other non-food things
It is possible that Pernicious Anaemia shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Pernicious Anaemia
The following are the most common causes of Pernicious Anaemia:
lack of vitamin B12 intake
weakened stomach lining
an autoimmune response
surgical removal of part of the stomach
tapeworm infection
celiac disease
Risk Factors for Pernicious Anaemia
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Pernicious Anaemia:
older people
family history
Addison's disease
Graves' disease
Crohn's disease
intestinal infections
use of certain seizure medicines
Northern European and African descent people
Prevention of Pernicious Anaemia
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Pernicious Anaemia. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
intake of foods high in vitamin B12 content
eat well balanced diet
Occurrence of Pernicious Anaemia
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Pernicious Anaemia cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Pernicious Anaemia can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Pernicious Anaemia can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Pernicious Anaemia
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Pernicious Anaemia:
Physical exam and medical history: To diagnose pernicious anemia
Complete blood count (CBC) test: To measure the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
Reticulocyte count: To determine the number of young red blood cells in the blood
Bone marrow tests: To evaluate whether the bone marrow is healthy and making enough red blood cells
Doctor for Diagnosis of Pernicious Anaemia
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Pernicious Anaemia:
Hematologist
Complications of Pernicious Anaemia if untreated
Yes, Pernicious Anaemia causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Pernicious Anaemia is left untreated:
gastric carcinoid tumors
gastric cancer
nervous system problems
depression
memory loss
excessive fatigue
Self-care for Pernicious Anaemia
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Pernicious Anaemia:
Get enough vitamin B12 in the diet: Helps in preventing pernicious anemia caused by dietary factors
Patient Support for Treatment of Pernicious Anaemia
The following actions may help Pernicious Anaemia patients:
Genetic counseling: Beneficial for affected individuals and their families
Time for Treatment of Pernicious Anaemia
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Pernicious Anaemia to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced
Last updated date
This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Pernicious Anaemia.