Anaemia can be caused by infection

Anaemia is a health condition where there is an insufficient amount of healthy red blood cells in the body. — Merck

A friend of mine has been warded in the hospital for an infection. It was very hard to eradicate that infection, and they apparently had to give her antibiotics for many days before her fever finally came down. It was found that her red blood cells were low. Can infections cause anaemia? I thought they only affected the white blood cells.

Yes, infections can cause anaemia in many ways.

Infections can lead to inflammation of your body or parts of it, thanks to your body’s immune response.

Then your body releases factors that can block iron utilisation.

Once you cannot process iron, you can get anaemia.

Some attacking microorganisms like parasites (like the one that causes malaria) or toxins released by some bacteria (e.g E. coli) can directly attack red blood cells.

Infections can also affect your body’s absorption of iron and other nutrients, thus not allowing new formation of red blood cells.

Viruses in particular can impair your bone marrow’s ability to make new blood cells, both red and white.

I always thought that having anaemia means I don’t have enough iron. That’s what my mother always told me.

There are many causes of anaemia.

But first, do understand that anaemia is a condition of you having low levels of healthy red blood cells in your body.

Your red blood cells carry oxygen to supply the organs and tissues in your body.

But first, let us understand our own red blood cells.

They are also known as erythrocytes (erythro = red, cytes = cells).

They transport oxygen from your lungs all throughout your body and take away the carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled and expelled.

The cycle repeats itself over and over to sustain your very life.

The red blood cells, like your white ones, are developed in your bone marrow.

They take seven days to fully mature and be released from your bone marrow into your bloodstream.

Once released, they look like bright red discs with a depression in the middle, kind of like doughnuts.

They are so red because they contain haemoglobin, which has haem that contains iron.

Your red blood cells are very flexible and can squeeze through very narrow blood vessels to do their job of delivering oxygen to your farthest tissues.

Anything that happens at any point during this cycle of red blood cell production or its circulation, as well as to cause the premature destruction of the red blood cells, can lead to anaemia.

OK. My friend has anaemia due to her infection. What will her symptoms be?

In addition to symptoms you get from the infection itself, such as fever, you may get the symptoms of anaemia.

These include:

• Fatigue: if not enough oxygen goes into your muscles and tissues, you won’t feel very energised to do much
• Weakness of muscles
• Shortness of breath: Your lungs try to compensate for the lack of oxygen flowing around your body by breathing in and out harder and more rapidly
• Headache and dizziness: It’s possible that not enough oxygen gets into your brain, thus, you may feel dizzy, especially when standing up or moving around
• Blurred vision: Same reason as above
• Cold extremities: By this, we mean cold hands and feet as these lose heat the easiest.

Do the infections that cause anaemia have to be of long duration?

Actually, no.

It is true that chronic infections – the ones that go on and on for a long time, such as malaria or tuberculosis – tend to cause anaemia more frequently than acute infections.

But acute infections – the ones that come on suddenly – can also cause anaemia.

The reason is that an acute infection can result in accelerated destruction of red blood cells.

Bacteria can release enzymes called haemolysins that cause your red blood cells to shatter or burst.

Some bacteria can also invade your red blood cells directly and cause them to rupture.

Others release factors that surround your red blood cells, thus prompting your own white blood cells to remove them.

During certain infections, your spleen has to be overactive in order to fight the infection.

This temporary enlargement of your spleen can also cause many red blood cells to accumulate inside it.

This is called temporary hypersplenism.

My friend who has the infection and anaemia had to have a blood transfusion. Does anaemia have to be treated by blood transfusion?

If her red blood count is really low, then yes.

But first, it is important to treat the infection itself.

The infection must be eradicated with antibiotics or antivirals and such.

If the anaemia is mild, the doctor can give you iron supplements that you can take by mouth (i.e. orally).

You can also be given folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 supplements, which are also needed in red blood cell production.

There are some medications that you can take to stimulate your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, such as erythropoetin.

Of course, if your red blood count is really low and your condition is rapidly worsening, your doctor may give you a blood transfusion.

If the infection is triggering an immune attack on your cells, immunosuppresants may also be used.

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.