DISEASES OF THE BLOOD

Introduction

Blood is essential for our life. It is doing the job of carrying oxygen and nutrients to almost every part of the body. Blood also fights infections and heals injuries. Therefore, disorders of the blood can have a great effect on our health.

Blood disorders are widely prevalent throughout  the world and are diseases that affect one or more parts of the blood. the symptoms depend on the part of the blood affected:

• Bleeding disorders prevent the blood from forming clots, which stop bleeding after an injury.
• Anaemia is a condition in which the blood has too few healthy red blood cells.
• Disorders of the bone marrow, such as leukaemia, may affect the production of blood cells. 

Anaemia is seen mainly in:

• Children under 5 years of age.
• Pregnant women.
• Social class 4 and 5.
• The elderly.        

Anaemia is frequent in tropical and developing countries and the cause is often multiple; iron-deficiency anaemia is widely distributed, particularly in association with malnutrition and hookworm infestation. Hereditary amaemias are also very common. Thalassaemias affect populations originating from area eastwards from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea through the Middle East to the indian subcontinent and south-east Asia. Sickle cell anaemia is found frequently in the black African population throughout the world.