What is Blood Dyscrasias: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Blood Dyscrasias is a condition which occurs when one part of the blood is not present in the normal supply and it is usually referred to as a blood disorder. This condition may occur when different constituents of blood like white blood or red blood cells and platelets are either high or too low in counts. The condition of blood dyscrasias mainly occurs when there is an abnormal function of blood and its components.
Types of Blood Dyscrasias
- There are different types of this condition and Von Willebrand’s disease is one such condition that occurs when blood clots due to supply of poor amounts of proteins.
- Hemophilia is another condition that occurs due the blood clotting diseases which affects the platelets.
- Thrombocytopenia is a condition known for low platelet count and can cause a serious decrease in platelet production. This condition can result in excessive bleeding at times.
- Anemia is another condition which is painful and occurs in red blood cells. This condition usually affects children.
- Hemorrhaging is a condition caused due to low red blood cells or mild anemia. This condition is caused as a result of serious bleeding.
Symptoms of Blood Dyscrasias
Pale skin color, weakness, decreased number of red blood cells, frequent infections due to decreased number of white blood cells are symptoms of blood dyscrasias.
Symptoms of blood dyscrasias caused due to specific diseases are:
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura(ITP) which causes sudden small and large bleeding points on the skin.
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura which causes symptoms like bleeding and anemia.
- Sometimes, symptoms like bleeding gums and nose bleeds are caused due to the disease Von Willebrand.
- Symptoms caused due to Hemophilia are bleeding in joints, significant bleeding during circumcision or during a surgery and easy bruising.
Causes of Blood Dyscrasias
The causes include:
- Genetic causes determined by family background can cause blood dyscrasias.
- Diseases that occur due to infection or from mutation in one’s genes can cause the condition of blood dyscrasias.
- Decreased platelets, poor functioning of platelets or loss of clotting factors cause bleeding problems.
- Treatment for blood dyscrasias includes chemotherapy, medicines, transfusion of blood products and bone marrow transplant at times.
- In some cases of blood dyscrasias, steroids may be of great help. Replacement of platelets, red or white blood cells will be helpful.