Aplastic Anemia
Aplastic anemia is a rare blood disorder that develops when the bone marrow does not produce an adequate number of blood cells needed by the body. “Aplastic” derives from a Greek word that means “no growth” or “low growth.” The bone marrow produces “stem cells” or “primitive” or immature cells that grow into three different kinds of blood cells: red blood cells, which deliver oxygen throughout the body; white blood cells, which battle infections; and platelets, which help the blood to clot. The bone marrow of people with aplastic anemia do not have sufficient stem cells to produce the blood cells needed by the body. Exposure to benzene and certain other toxic solvents and chemicals can be a cause of aplastic anemia.
The following are possible symptoms of aplastic anemia:
- Excessive or easy bleeding, such as bleeding of the nose, gums, and under the skin
- Easy bruising, particularly bruising with no apparent cause
- Tiny spots under the skin (called “petechiae”)
- Pale skin
- Mouth ulcers
- Dizziness
- Chronic fatigue
- Palpitations
- Excessive sleeping
- Decreased alertness
- Shortness of breath
- Recurrent fever
- Slow healing of cuts
- Recurrent infections
- Weakness
