Anemia Differential Diagnosis Table

Anemia is a condition in which the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues. This condition ultimately leads to many other diseases and causes severe weakness in the body. Anemia can be the sign of many other fatal diseases like thelasemia etc.

There are many forms of anemia, including aplastic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and vitamin deficiency anemia. Each type has different causes as well as different effects on the body and therefore each type even has a different treatment. Anemia can be severe or mild and range from temporary to long-term.

Signs and symptoms of anemia can vary depending on the severity of the condition. It is also possible that you have no symptoms at all at the beginning. The most common symptoms of anemia are fatigue, weakness, yellowish skin, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, etc.

Anemia Differential Diagnosis Table:

Anemia is a condition in which the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, which leads to decreased oxygen supply to organs in the body.
Anemia itself can be a condition or a symptom of another disease. Anemia can lead to several common symptoms, including fatigue, increased heart rate, and paleness of the face.
Although most people discover they are anemic during routine check-ups, some people with very low hemoglobin levels may experience symptoms to a great extent and be diagnosed immediately.
Anemia has several types, and treatment differs according to each type, but usually, diagnosis can easily be made based on complete blood count levels.

How To Recognize Which Disease Is Causing The Anemia

How to Recognize if Iron Deficiency is Causing Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It is usually due to low iron intake and iron storage in the body to make enough hemoglobin. The most common symptoms of anemia are constant fatigue, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, and pale skin.
Diagnosis of anemia is easily made based on CBC, ferritin, and transferrin levels by simple blood tests.
Differentiation between iron deficiency anemia and other causes that may cause anemia is made based on CBC level in most cases. But another unique symptom that may differentiate iron deficiency anemia from others is pica symptoms, which means the patient usually has a craving for non-food items like metal.

How to Recognize if Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Causing Anemia

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by a low level of vitamin B12 in the body. This vitamin is essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells. Without it, red blood cells will be abnormally large and cause non-functional RBCs that can’t carry oxygen.
Unlike other types of anemia, the most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are neurological symptoms since vitamin B12 is important for nerve function.
Diagnostic tests for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia depend mainly on blood tests of vitamin B12 levels in the blood.
It’s important to exclude pernicious anemia as a cause of vitamin B12 deficiency since pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to not absorb vitamin B12.

How to Recognize if Folate Deficiency is Causing Anemia

Folate deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by a low level of folate, which is a type of vitamin B. Usually, this type of anemia is due to a poor diet and unhealthy habits. Decreased folate levels cause a decrease in hemoglobin levels and the formation of abnormally large red blood cells.
The most common problem of folate deficiency is congenital problems that lead to complications in neonates like spina bifida.
The most common way to diagnose and differentiate between folate deficiency anemia and other types of anemia is to check folate levels and perform a peripheral blood smear, which will show the abnormally large red blood cells.

How to Recognize if Hemolytic is Causing Anemia

Hemolytic anemia is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than usual, so the body can’t make new ones and match the rate of breakdown of red blood cells. This condition is usually inherited from parents, but it can also be acquired later in life. Symptoms of hemolytic anemia differ from one patient to another, but the most common symptoms usually involve dizziness, pale skin, and fatigue.
Hemolytic anemia has a different character than other types of anemia; it can cause an enlarged spleen and liver.
Diagnostic tests are available to help recognize hemolytic anemia, like CBC and peripheral smear, but in some cases, a bone marrow biopsy or aspiration is needed to confirm the condition.

How to Recognize if Sickle Cell is Causing Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic condition that causes defective red blood cells. This condition causes red blood cells to be sickled instead of being round and smooth. This causes a lot of problems; these red blood cells get destroyed faster than normal, leading to anemia, and they are also rough and sticky, which may cause a lot of clotting complications.
The most common symptom of sickle cell anemia is episodes of severe pain, which don’t occur in any other type of anemia.
Genetic testing for sickle cell anemia is available to detect patients at risk of having the disease, although sickle cell anemia can be detected in unborn babies by analysis of amniotic fluid.

How to Recognize if Aplastic is Causing Anemia

Aplastic anemia is a rare and serious condition caused by damage to bone marrow that is responsible for red blood cell production. Usually, the damage is in the stem cells. Aplastic anemia can cause severe and sudden symptoms which require immediate medical attention. The only treatment for aplastic anemia is stem cell transplantation.
Symptoms of aplastic anemia can be similar to other types of anemia like fatigue and dizziness, but bone marrow biopsy and peripheral blood smear can confirm this condition and exclude other types of anemia.

Important Red Flags In Anemia

Usually, anemia itself can cause very mild symptoms or even be asymptomatic, but in some cases, the symptoms may be very severe, and the patient may need immediate medical attention.
The first red flag symptom is usually persistent fatigue; the patient will need to check hemoglobin levels to correct anemia quickly.
Irregular heartbeat, especially tachycardia, and dizziness are also red flags.
Another common symptom in females is heavy menstrual bleeding; although this is very common, it’s a very underrated symptom that is usually misdiagnosed.
Some unusual symptoms that may occur include ulcers, gastritis, and hemorrhoids, which may occur due to long-term untreated anemia.

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