Other Blood Diseases

Aplastic Anemia

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Aplastic anemia is suspected when test results indicate that all three blood cell levels are extremely low, but the cells themselves have a relatively normal appearance. It remains a rare disease, striking only two to six of every 1 million people annually in the United States and Europe.

In addition to low blood cell counts, aplastic anemia is characterized by other physical symptoms of anemia such as pale skin and fingernails, rapid pulse, heart murmur and fatigue. Children also may exhibit abnormal bleeding including multiple bruises, nosebleeds, bleeding gums and small hemorrhages under the skin as well as infection, especially fever. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Other possible symptoms include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Blood in stool
• Sinus tenderness
• Enlarged liver or spleen
• Oral thrush, which produces white patches on a red, moist, swollen surface anywhere in the mouth

Aplastic anemia in children may have many causes such as a previous illness or infection. But in 50 percent to 75 percent of childhood aplastic anemia, the reason for the condition isn't known. Causes may include:

• A history of specific infectious diseases such as hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• A history of taking certain medications
• Exposure to certain toxins such as heavy metals
• Exposure to radiation
• History of an autoimmune disease such as lupus

Children also may inherit a disorder that increases their risk of developing aplastic anemia. Some disorders known to increase the risk of developing the condition include:

• Fanconi Anemia: One of several inherited anemias, named after Swiss pediatrician Guido Fanconi, this anemia leads to bone marrow failure.
• Dyskeratosis Congenita: This is a rare disorder in which three types of symptoms occur -- darkening or unusual absence of skin color; progressive nail degeneration; and slowly changing characteristics of mucous membranes in the anus, urethra, lips, mouth and eye.
• Schwachman-Diamond Syndrome: This is a rare disease that mainly involves the pancreas, bone marrow and skeleton.
• Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia: Another rare condition, this syndrome results in bruising and bleeding due to low levels of platelets.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007