Classification of Anaemias Based on Etiology
Anaemia can be classified as
Impaired Production of Red Blood Cells and Hemoglobin: This can be due to nutritional deficiency, deficiency of iron, vitamin B6, vitamin B 12, vitamin C, folic acid and amino acids etc. or due to bone marrow failure.
Excessive Destruction of Red Blood Cells: This can be caused by hemolytic disease of new born, erythroblastosis fetalis, the effects of toxic drugs, Venoms or lead poisoning, thermal injury or burns, transfusion reactions, certain infections, such as infectious monoucleosis, and splenic enlargemnt. Other defects which include abnormalities in haemoglobin synthesis are sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia.
Blood loss: This may be due to acute blood loss from the placenta, umbilical cord, trauma, epistaxis, or circumcision. Anaemia may also be caused by chronic blood loss due to bleeding in gastronitestnial tract, hookworm infestation, chronic dysentery, peptic ulcer or oesophageal varices, etc.
Blood Diseases: Haemorrhagic diseases of the new born; scurvy, haemophilia, purpura, leukaemia may also cause anaemia.