Vascular Anomalies Surgery (Abnormalities Involving Blood Vessels)
Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program
Aplastic Anemia
What is Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow in the center of the bone does not make enough healthy blood cells for the body to function normally. Patients may have low blood counts involving all three types of blood cells — red cells, white cells, and platelets. When the bone marrow of these patients is examined under the microscope, it is usually found to have reduced numbers of the 'stem cells' that are the precursors of all blood cells.
Types
There are two broad types of aplastic anemia in children. Aplastic anemia may be idiopathic, meaning it occurs sporadically for no known reason. Alternatively, aplastic anemia may be secondary, resulting from a previous illness or disorder.
The majority of childhood cases of aplastic anemia are idiopathic and occur sporadically for no known reason.
Secondary or acquired cases, however, may result from infection, medication or toxin exposure or as a result of an autoimmune disease such as lupus. Children may also inherit a disorder that predisposes them to developing aplastic anemia.
What are the symptoms of Aplastic Anemia?
The following are the most common symptoms of aplastic anemia. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- bruising
- lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue)
- abnormally pale skin
- blood in stool
- nosebleeds
- bleeding gums
- fevers
- enlarged liver or spleen
- frequent infections
The symptoms of aplastic anemia may resemble other blood disorders or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
How is Aplastic Anemia diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination of your child, diagnostic procedures for aplastic anemia may include:
- blood tests
- bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy - a procedure that involves taking a small amount of bone marrow fluid (aspiration) and/or solid bone marrow tissue (called a core biopsy), usually from the hip bones, to be examined for the number, size, and maturity of blood cells and/or abnormal cells.
How is Aplastic Anemia treated?
Specific treatment for aplastic anemia will be determined by your physician. Aplastic anemia is a serious illness and treatment usually depends on the underlying cause. Treatment may include:
- blood transfusion (both red blood cells and platelets)
- preventative antibiotic therapy
- medications (to stimulate the bone marrow to produce cells)
- immunosuppressive therapy
- hormones
- bone marrow transplant
About treatment for aplastic anemia at Children’s
Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders program achieves outcomes that rank among the top national programs and cares for more than two-thirds of Minnesota children and adolescents with blood disorders. In the program, families coping with anemia have access to the newest and most promising treatments and receive care spearheaded and coordinated by a board-certified hematologist/oncologist.
Contact us
If you are a family member looking for a Children’s hematologist or oncologist or wanting to schedule an appointment, call the outpatient clinic at Children’s – Minneapolis at (612) 813-5940
If you are a health professional looking for consultation or referral information, please call Children's Physician Access at 1-866-755-2121 (toll-free).
Megaloblastic Anemia
What is megaloblastic anemia?
Megaloblastic anemia is a blood disorder in which there is anemia with larger-than-normal red blood cells. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to provide oxygen to tissues.
In megaloblastic anemia, the body’s ability to produce red blood cells is affected by a vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, often caused by the body’s inability to absorb or process these vitamins.
What are the symptoms of megaloblastic anemia?
Symptoms include diarrhea or constipation; fatigue, lack of energy, or light-headedness when standing up or with exertion; loss of appetite; pale skin; problems concentrating, mostly during exercise; swollen, red tongue or bleeding gums.
Sometimes nerve damage caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can include: confusion or change in mental status (dementia) in severe cases; depression; loss of balance; numbness and tingling of hands and feet.
How is megaloblastic anemia diagnosed?
Certain blood tests identify megaloblastic anemia like a complete blood count (CBC) and a test for B12 and folate levels. Sometimes an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) exam is needed to look at the stomach or small intestine.
How is megaloblastic anemia treated?
Treatment depends on the cause of the vitamin deficiency. Pernicious anemia requires lifelong vitamin B12 replacement, most often using injections. Some patients can get enough supplementation with high-dose tablets of oral vitamin B12.
People with anemia due to a lack of dietary vitamin B12 may be told to take vitamin supplements and follow a more balanced diet. Treatment may start with vitamin B12 injections.
Anemia caused by poor digestion and absorption is treated with vitamin B12 injections until the condition improves. These shots are given every day and then every week at first, and then every month.
Many people may need these shots once a month for the rest of their life. The shots may no longer be needed after Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or alcoholism is properly treated.
About treatment for megaloblastic anemia at Children’s
Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders program achieves outcomes that rank among the top national programs and cares for more than two-thirds of Minnesota children and adolescents with blood disorders. In the program, families coping with anemia have access to the newest and most promising treatments and receive care spearheaded and coordinated by a board-certified hematologist/oncologist.
With megaloblastic anemia, most children respond to a combination of treatments including medication and lifestyle adjustments. Our professionals will track your child’s recovery in an effort to stay well ahead of any possible complications.
Contact us
If you are a family member looking for a Children’s hematologist or oncologist or wanting to schedule an appointment, call the outpatient clinic at Children’s – Minneapolis at (612) 813-5940
If you are a health professional looking for consultation or referral information, please call Children's Physician Access at 1-866-755-2121 (toll-free).
Types of Anemias and Hemoglobinopathies
Children's Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program treats the following types of anemias and hemoglobinopathies:
Types of Anemias
- Aplastic anemia
- Chronic anemia
- Hemolytic anemia
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Megaloblastic anemia
Types of Hemoglobinopathies
Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program
Children's Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program is a nationally recognized program that treats the majority of children and teens in Minnesota with abnormal hemoglobins and anemias.
Because these diseases include problems with red blood cells and bone marrow, where the body makes blood cells, they affect many major organs in the body. Your child will receive care from a multidisciplinary team including in-house pediatric specialists from every specialty who work together to treat and, also, prevent potential complications that may develop from the disorder.
Why Choose Children's?
Unique initiatives in pain management, emergency treatment, and family support give Children's patients a care advantage.
We treat more kids. Children's Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program treats more than 83 percent of children and teens in Minnesota with sickle cell disease or hemoglobinopathies.
Access to the latest treatment options. Our patients have access to the most up-to-date local, national and international treatment options through participation in the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institute for Health. Through this participation your child is assured access to the most current treatment options and is given the opportunity to participate in clinical studies if desired.
Best possible emergency care. Rigorous standards of emergency care, with sickle cell care standards in place from the National Institute of Health, helps patients receive the fastest, most effective treatments for fever, pain crises, priapism and acute chest syndrome.
Kids are hospitalized less. Nationally recognized sickle cell pain management has reduced sickle cell disease hospital admissions for pain by approximately 50 percent and reduced lengths-of-inpatient-stays for sickle cell pain by nearly 50 percent.
Resources to help kids succeed in school. Neuropsychologists work proactively with patients, families and schools to help patients reach their maximum intellectual potential.
We find potential problems early. Aggressive identification and treatment of pulmonary complications, which are common in sickle cell disease. Patients receive annual evaluations to identify and treat subclinical and clinical pulmonary problems.
Second opinions for children not seen in our program. At Children's, we provide consultation services for children who are not seen in our program but would like input from our expert team. If you or your child's doctor would like us to review your child's case, you may arrange to have health records and test results for your child sent to us. The child does not need to live in the area or be seen in our clinic.
What is the Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program?
The Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program at Children's aims to address each patient's specific needs. Through a multidisciplinary health care team, access to the most current diagnostic tools like Transcranial Doppler (technology used to help identify and prevent strokes in children and teens with sickle cell disease), the specially designed C.H. Robinson Infusion Center, preventative therapies, and groundbreaking clinical research, the Children's program is unlike any other treatment option in the region.
Family support services for children and families coping with sickle cell disease are a fundamental component of the Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program at Children's. These services include:
- Financial assistance. Children's social workers and financial specialists can help families apply for government and other programs.
- Summer camp. Children's annual sickle cell camp is held at Camp Courage in Maple Lake, about 45 miles west of Minneapolis. Campers meet others facing similar health challenges and are cared for by Children's staff.
- Parent support group. A support group for parents of kids with sickle cell disease meets regularly.
More about the program
