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Treatment plans for anemia are individualized depending on the underlying cause, the severity, the presence of coexisting diseases, the age of the patient, and other factors. Treatment involves a multifaceted plan that addresses the underlying cause, such as sickle cell disease or Vitamin B12 deficiency.
For example, iron deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency are treated by addressing the underlying cause of these nutritional deficiencies. They are also treated with iron supplements or vitamin B12 injections, as appropriate. Eating a well balanced diet is also stressed.
Thalassemia is treated with regular blood transfusions and other procedures. Hemorrhage is treated by addressing the underlying cause of the bleeding, such as peptic ulcer, and possibly with blood transfusion.
Sickle cell disease is not curable. The complication of sickle cell crisis is treated with pain medications, supplemental oxygen, medications, and possibly blood transfusion, stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Anemia includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Anemia may include:
The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Anemia may include:
Hidden causes of Anemia may be incorrectly diagnosed:
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Anemia:
Possibly curable types of Anemia may include:
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Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Anemia include:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Anemia include:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Anemia:
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The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Anemia:
If no other
cause for EPO deficiency is found, it can be treated with a
genetically engineered form of the hormone, which is usually
injected under the skin two or three times a week. Hemodialysis
patients who can't tolerate EPO shots may receive the hormone
intravenously during treatment, but this method requires a larger,
more expensive dose and may not be as effective. DOQI recommends
that patients treated with EPO therapy should achieve a target Hgb
of 11 to 12 g/dL.
Iron
Many people with kidney
disease need both EPO and iron supplements to raise their Hct to a
satisfactory level. If your iron levels are too low, then EPO won't
help and you'll continue to experience the effects of anemia. You
may be able to take an iron pill, but many studies show that iron
pills don't work as well in people with kidney failure as iron given
intravenously. Iron is injected directly into an arm or into the
tube that returns blood to your body during hemodialysis.
A
nurse or doctor will give you a test dose because a very small
number of people (less than 1 percent) have a bad reaction to iron
injections. If you begin to wheeze or have trouble breathing, your
health care provider can administer epinephrine or corticosteroids
to counter the reaction. Even though the risk is small, you'll be
asked to sign a form stating that you understand the possible
reaction and that you agree to have the treatment. Talk with your
health care provider if you have any questions.
In addition
to measuring your Hct and Hgb, your tests will also include two
measurements to show whether you have enough iron.
In addition to EPO and iron, a few people may also need vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements. (Source: excerpt from Anemia in Kidney Disease and Dialysis: NIDDK)
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