Aplastic Anemia is a rare (5-10 cases per million), a serious condition where the bone marrow fails to produce white cells, red cells, and the platelets. Aplastic anemia is observed in children as well as in adults.

The term Aplastic comes from the word aplasia that means failure of generation or formation. Anemia means a deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood.

The spongy material inside the bones is called as bone marrow and is like a factory that produces blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets). In case of Aplastic anemia, bone marrow fails to form or develop blood cells.

The red cells in the blood carry oxygen from the lungs to all areas of the body. In Aplastic anemia with less number of red cells, body parts do not get sufficient oxygen that is absolutely essential for their functioning.

White cells fight infection by attacking and destroying germs and their less number of Aplastic anemia leads to poor defense mechanism making the suffering individual prone to various and at times lethal infections.

Platelets are blood cells that control bleeding by forming blood clots in areas of injury. Reduced platelets lead to blood clotting disorder, whereby blood does not clot naturally, leading to uncontrolled bleeding.

SYMPTOMS OF APLASTIC ANEMIA

Aplastic anemia can have no symptoms. When present, signs and symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid or irregular heart rate
• Pale skin
• Frequent or prolonged infections
• Unexplained or easy bruising
• Nosebleeds and bleeding gums
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts
• Skin rash
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fever

Aplastic anemia can be short-lived, or it can become chronic. It can be severe and even fatal.

CAUSES OF APLASTIC ANEMIA

Stem cells in the bone marrow produce blood cells — red cells, white cells and platelets. In aplastic anemia, stem cells are damaged. As a result, the bone marrow is either empty (aplastic) or contains few blood cells (hypoplastic).

The most common cause of aplastic anemia is from your immune system attacking the stem cells in your bone marrow. Other factors that can injure bone marrow and affect blood cell production include:

• Radiation and chemotherapy treatments. While these cancer-fighting therapies kill cancer cells, they can also damage healthy cells, including stem cells in bone marrow. Aplastic anemia can be a temporary side effect of these treatments.
• Exposure to toxic chemicals. Toxic chemicals, such as some used in pesticides and insecticides, and benzene, an ingredient in gasoline, have been linked to aplastic anemia. This type of anemia might improve if you avoid repeated exposure to the chemicals that caused your illness.
• Use of certain drugs. Some medications, such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some antibiotics, can cause aplastic anemia.
• Autoimmune disorders. An autoimmune disorder, in which your immune system attacks healthy cells, might involve stem cells in your bone marrow.
• A viral infection. Viral infections that affect bone marrow can play a role in the development of aplastic anemia. Viruses that have been linked to aplastic anemia include hepatitis, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 and HIV.
• Pregnancy. Your immune system might attack your bone marrow during pregnancy.
• Unknown factors. In many cases, doctors aren't able to identify the cause of aplastic anemia (idiopathic aplastic anemia).

Connections with other rare disorders

Some people with aplastic anemia also have a rare disorder known as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, which causes red blood cells to break down too soon. This condition can lead to aplastic anemia, or aplastic anemia can evolve into paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Fanconi's anemia is a rare, inherited disease that leads to aplastic anemia. Children born with it tend to be smaller than average and have birth defects, such as underdeveloped limbs. The disease is diagnosed with the help of blood tests.

RISK FACTORS OF APLASTIC ANEMIA

Aplastic anemia is rare. Factors that can increase risk include:

• Treatment with high-dose radiation or chemotherapy for cancer
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• The use of some prescription drugs — such as chloramphenicol, which is used to treat bacterial infections, and gold compounds used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
• Certain blood diseases, autoimmune disorders and serious infections
• Pregnancy, rarely

PREVENTION OF APLASTIC ANEMIA

There's no prevention for most cases of aplastic anemia. Avoiding exposure to insecticides, herbicides, organic solvents, paint removers and other toxic chemicals might lower your risk of the disease.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR APLASTIC ANEMIA

Role of Homeopathy in Aplastic Anemia.

• Homeopathy medicines attempt to stimulate the healthy portion of bone marrow to improve cell production. This may help to reduce the number of blood transfusions.
• Homeopathy medicines improve general vitality and well being of a patient to help him fight infections.
• Homeopathy medicines can be useful to control bleeding disorder associated with Aplastic anemia.
• Homeopathy medicines are effective in curtailing further course and pace of disease.
• The diagnosis of Aplastic anemia can have a terrible emotional impact on the patient, which can have a detrimental effect on immunity, thus adding fuel to the fire. Homeopathy medicines having a positive influence on the psyche of the patient can take care of this mind-body link.
• Homeopathy medicines are beneficial in countering side-effects associated with conventional therapy.
• Homeopathy medicines have a very effective long-term beneficial effect or preventive effect in terms of countering genetic tendencies and balancing disturbed immunity that are root causes of this serious malady. The chances of relapse significantly diminish with homeopathy treatment. The important point that should be emphasized is that when dealing with a serious condition like Aplastic anemia, the beneficial effects of multiple therapeutic systems should be used in concordance with each other. There cannot be a single or exclusive line of treatment. Homeopathy medicines, as they do not adversely interfere with conventional medication, are absolutely safe.

However, considering the pace and grievous nature of the disease, homeopathy alone may have limitations in managing Aplastic anemia. One cannot expect a miraculous cure for Aplastic anemia with homeopathy alone. Nonetheless, homeopathy treatment along with conventional treatment can add a lot to quality management of a patient with Aplastic anemia. It should be emphasized that Homeopathic treatment is not a substitute for any mode of modern medicine such as blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant, etc. The role of homeopathy is more complementary than the alternative when it comes to managing Aplastic anemia.