Blood diseases in children differ and multiply according to the difference in their cause, so what are the reasons? What are the treatment methods? Follow the article to learn more. There are many blood diseases in children for which doctors are still developing special treatments. Continue reading to find out the most important details about them: Blood diseases in children. Blood diseases in children can be divided according to their origin and the part that causes them, as follows:
Red blood cell diseases and iron disorders
There are many diseases related to red blood cells and iron stores, we will learn about the common types of them, such as:
1. Sickle Cell Disease
It is normal for red blood cells to be soft, flexible, and similar to the letter O in English, and in contrast, in sickle cell disease, they are hard, sticky, and shaped like the letter C.
Sickle cells begin to aggregate and stick to the lining of blood vessels, making it difficult for them to move.
2. Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a group of genetic blood disorders that affect the gene responsible for making hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Thalassemia patients lose this gene responsible for making hemoglobin, which causes anemia, the degree of which varies from mild to severe.
The classification of the disease varies according to the genetic mutation that affects the gene responsible for making hemoglobin.
3. Iron deficiency anemia
It is a common childhood blood disease that occurs when the number of red blood cells decreases due to iron deficiency. Red blood cells need iron to produce the protein hemoglobin, which helps them transport oxygen to various parts of the body.
It appears in children in the form of several symptoms such as pale skin and a rapid heartbeat.
4. Hemolytic anemia
It is a subtype of anemia that occurs when the number of red blood cells is lower than normal due to damage and the inability of the bone marrow to make them again faster.
Hemorrhagic diseases
There are many diseases of blood bleeding in children, such as
1. Hemophilia
It is a rare disease that prevents blood from clotting. Because the body is unable to produce the clotting factor protein that helps a patient stop bleeding, the person continues to bleed for longer than usual
2. Van Willebrand-VWD
It is a genetic blood disease in children that affects the blood''s ability to clot, which is caused by a low level of a blood protein called von Willebrand factor.
This protein helps platelets stick together to stop bleeding. The factor may be present in the blood, but it is not effective.
3. Thrombocytopenia
It is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when a child''s body attacks and destroys platelets in the blood.
Coagulation disorders and anticoagulants
Classifications of clotting disorders differ according to their cause, such as
1. Thrombosis
Thrombosis is a blood clot that develops inside the veins or arteries of the body, and its occurrence is sometimes dangerous.
Thrombosis occurs due to some medical procedures, medications and other diseases, and if not treated, it causes long-term problems, such as: permanent damage to internal organs, or pain.
2. Stroke
Stroke is a blood disease in children that occurs when blood stops flowing to the brain even for a second, preventing oxygen and other important substances from reaching the brain and causing permanent brain damage.
Autoimmune blood cell disorders
One example of an autoimmune disease that may affect a child is Evans Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack red blood cells.
This disease is a combination of hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, which may occur together or separately.
Other disorders
Other disorders may occur depending on their origin, such as
1. Bone marrow failure syndromes which include
Aplastic anemia.
Fanconi anemia.
Myelodysplastic syndrome.
2. White blood cell disorders, such as
Chronic granulomatous disease.
Periodic neutropenia.
Symptoms of blood diseases in children
Children may develop several symptoms, such as:
Headache and irritability.
Swelling or inflammation of the tongue.
Slow wound healing.
growth retardation
accelerated heart rate
fatigue easily.
growth retardation
Diagnosis and treatment of blood diseases in children
Doctors diagnose blood smear and complete blood count screening for these diseases by drawing a blood sample from a child.
Treatment methods differ according to the type of blood disease in children. These are some of the available treatments:
Eat foods that promote healthy and strong blood.
Get vitamins and minerals.
Transfusion.
Bone marrow transplant.
Stem cell transplant.
Regular blood tests.
Ways to prevent blood diseases in children
Methods of prevention of blood diseases in children depend on the type of disorder. Here are some prevention methods:
Avoid infection.
Ensure that your child receives a good diet.
Parents make sure that blood diseases can be transmitted to children through them.
