Anemia is the clinical condition in which the hemoglobin rate is less than the third percentile relative to the patient’s age group.
Symptoms appear in relation to the rapidity of onset, severity of anemia, and underlying pathology. If it is a rapid onset, headache, dizziness, tachycardia, and postural hypotension appear. At slow onset, however, pallor, progressive asthenia, irritability, and fatigue appear.
Essential laboratory tests are CBC with leukocyte formula, peripheral blood smear, VCM, reticulitis. In case of trauma or gastrointestinal bleeding, it is necessary to exclude diseases that require surgery. In case of clinical symptomatology with oxygen insufficiency, immediate transfusion therapy is recommended.
Another emergency situation is renal failure during massive intravascular hemolysis. Symptoms include lumbar ligament pain, hemoglobinuria, and progressive oliguria and anuria. Therapy in these cases requires intravenous hyperhydration and furosemide.
Source: Medical Emergencies in Pediatrics by Mediserve edited by Maurizio Vanelli
