Anaemia

In developed countries like India,anaemia is a major cause of mortality during pregnancy

Food Customs and preferences

Certain families don’t eat nonveg food. Actually during childhood, there is no harm in eating nonveg food. Child should eat nonveg food which is properly cooked. Nonveg food provides good quality proteins, vitamin B12 which is very essential. Good quality proteins are the building blocks of the body. Vitamin B12 is not available in large quantities in vegetarian food. Its deficiency leads to megaloblastic anaemia. Child should have nonveg soups like chicken soup and adequate fish.

Pregnancy & anaemia

Pregnant ladies especially are supposed to be more careful as severe anaemia may need blood transfusion during delivery/caesarean section if there is a lot of blood loss. Therefore blood group testing is done routinely in pregnant ladies.

Anaemia is a condition when one's hemoglobin (Hb) is low.In Indian setup levels are as follows _ For males <13gm% & for females <11%

Causes of anaemia

1)low dietary intake of iron & folic acid

2)blood loss - due to piles,gastric ulcer,major surgery,accidents & injuries,bone marrow suppression as in blood cancerssome drugs can cause bone marrow suppression,worms

3)What are the effects- early tiredness because Hb helps in carrying oxygen

4)Anaemia if not corrected earlier can have deleterious effects on health.It can cause 'Anaemic retinopathy" in which bleeding occurs inside the eye.

5)Long-standing severe anaemia can lead to heart failure

6)It can be associated with other conditions like "pancytopenia"in which all the blood cells production decreases

How to correct it

1)Eat foods rich in iron & folic acid,vitamin B12-almonds,apple,jaggery,dates,meat

2)Take iron supplements as per doctor's advice

3)Take Rx for following conditions-worms especially in children,piles
In Sickle cell anaemia ,RBC's (red blood cells) are fragile and become sickle shaped.Their oxygen carrying capacity is poor.The disease has variants like

1)Sickle cell trait

For worms drugs like mebendazole ,albendazole are useful.For correction of piles,surgical consultation should be made.This is an important cause of blood loss.One should eat nonveg diet adequate so that he gets vit B12 as veg diet contains very less amounts of vit B12.Certain drugs like primaquine which is used in Rx of malaria can cause bone marrow toxicity.Bleeding gastric  & duodenal ulcers can lead to loss of blood.Pregnant ladies should monitor Hb levels If they are anaemic,they may need blood transfusion during delivery