Anemia is a general term for having too few red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients through the bloodstream to the body’s cells. The most important element of red blood cells is called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the body’s cells. Anemia occurs when the body is making too few healthy red blood cells; the body is losing blood (hemorrhage); or the body is destroying circulating red blood cells.

Essentials for Diagnosis 
(1) The patient has a history of suffering from hemorrhage, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, denutrition, contact with or administration of the substances or medicines which are harmful to hematopoietic system, chronic infection, serious diseases of the heart, liver or kidneys, or malignant tumor.

(2) Physical examination: sallow complexion, pale lips and eyelids, pale flat or fragile finger nails, or mucocutaneous blood spots, jaundice, enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes can be seen.

(3) Laboratory examination may show decreased red blood cells and hemoglobin. If distinct decrease of leukocyte and thrombocytopenia is also found, it is indicated that the disease may be aplastic anemia. When necessary, bone marrow smear and other laboratory examinations are recommended to ascertain the nature and causes of anemia.