Low erythrocytes are conditions where the level of red blood cells in the body decreases to below the normal range. In the initial stages, this condition does not cause signs or symptoms, so it is only known after a blood test.
Erythrocytes or red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. These cells contain a protein called hemoglobin and function to deliver oxygen from the lungs to all organs and tissues of the body.
You can find out the level of erythrocytes in the body by undergoing a complete blood test. Normal red blood cell levels in adult men are between 4.7-6.1 million / microliter (mcl), and in adult women it is 4.2-5.4 million / mcl. Whereas in children, normal erythrocyte levels are 4.1-5.5 million / mcl.
What Makes Erythrocytes Low?
Low erythrocyte levels can be caused by many factors, one of which is bleeding, for example due to an accident or surgery. Decreased levels of erythrocytes also often occur in pregnant women, due to the increasing amount of fluid in the body.
There are several other conditions that can cause a decrease in erythrocyte levels, namely:
Lack of nutritional intake
There are several nutrients the body needs to produce red blood cells, including iron, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Lack of nutritional intake can occur in people with unhealthy eating patterns, have intestinal disorders so that nutrient absorption is inhibited, or undergo a vegetarian diet.
Suffer from certain diseases
Some diseases that can make erythrocyte levels in the body decrease are:
- Anemia.
- Rupture of red blood cells or hemolysis, as in thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
- Severe infection.
- Thyroid disease.
- Bone marrow disorders.
- Blood cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma.
- Kidney damage.
- Lead poisoning.
Decreased erythrocyte levels can also occur in the elderly, people who have just had major operations, such as gastrointestinal surgery, and people who are too often become blood donors.
Drug side effects
Low levels of erythrocytes can occur due to side effects of drugs. Some drugs that are at risk of reducing erythrocyte levels in the body are:
- Chemotherapy drugs, which are used in the treatment of cancer.
- Quinidine, which is commonly used to treat heart rate disorders.
- NSAID anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
- Cephalosporin, penicillin and chloramphenicol antibiotics.
- Certain types of antiepileptic drugs, such as hydantoin.
Low levels of erythrocytes in the body do not always show symptoms. When symptoms appear, the complaint is similar to the symptoms of anemia, namely weakness, pale, fatigue, palpitations, to shortness of breath.
If you experience these symptoms, immediately consult a doctor so that the cause can be known and given the right treatment.
Handling Low Erythrocytes
Management of low erythrocytes will be adjusted according to the cause. Common treatments given by doctors to treat low erythrocytes include:
- Providing iron supplements, if the cause of erythrocytes is low is iron deficiency. The doctor will also encourage sufferers to consume more food sources of iron, such as meat, fish, green vegetables, and nuts.
- Providing folate supplements and vitamin B12, if the cause of erythrocytes is low is the lack of these two nutrients.
Patients are also encouraged to eat beef and liver, beef, avocado, spinach, nuts, and cereals enriched with folate and vitamin B12.
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and / or surgery, if low erythrocytes are caused by cancer.
- Washing blood and giving the hormone erythropoietin, if erythrocyte levels are low are experienced by patients with end-stage renal failure.
- Blood transfusion, if the cause of low levels of erythrocytes is bleeding.
If you don't get proper treatment, low levels of erythrocytes can cause serious complications, ranging from disorders of the heart to death.
Therefore, if you feel a complaint that is similar to anemia symptoms and has risk factors that can cause low erythrocytes, it is advisable to see a doctor immediately.
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