Folic acid deficiency anemia is severe pathology that develops with insufficient intake in the human folate (vitamin B9 group). This haematological disease is often combined with megaloblastic anemia associated with deficiency of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12 group). The lack of these vitamins leads to violations of the complex system of blood formation, can cause irreparable harm to the health of children and adults.
Causes
Folic acid (vitamin B9) is present in large quantities in plant foods. Getting in the human body, it breaks down into compounds - folates, which are involved in:
- process of production of blood cells;
- ensuring the normal operation of the digestive and hormonal systems;
- propagation of genetic information;
- formation of cerebrospinal fluid, etc..
Vitamin B9 is not able to accumulate within the body, with urine and then it is expelled continuously. Vital daily fill the required amount of said element.
By the formation of folic acid deficiency anemia can cause the following reasons:
- Deficiency of folic acid in the diet. This is facilitated by a meager monotonous diet. Source of vitamin B9 may be such products: vegetables, legumes, honey, beef liver, bran cereal, eggs and so on.
- Parasitic infections. Helminths can absorb folic acid, creating a shortage of the element to the host.
- Pathogenic intestinal microflora and digestive diseases that interfere with the absorption of mineral elements, including vitamin B9: gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, goiter, celiac disease, hepatitis, etc.
- The use of certain potent medicaments (cycloserine, isoniazid, phenytoin et al.).
- Conditions and diseases requiring an increased requirement of vitamin B9. These include: pregnancy, cancer, dermatitis, psoriasis.
Factors contributing to the development of folic acid deficiency anemia, can be considered:
- alcoholism;
- monodiet abuse;
- inadequate intake of food in its raw form;
- heavy bleeding;
- frequent vomiting exhausting.
young children, pregnant women and the elderly are at risk.
symptoms
For the initial symptoms of anemia folievodefitsitnoy focus include:
- decreased performance;
- extreme weakness;
- noise in ears;
- headache;
- dizziness.
These manifestations of the disease caused by hypoxia due to poor oxygen supply of brain and malfunction in the nervous system.
As the pathology of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems begin to operate in emergency mode to make up the deficit in the shelter of red corpuscles. It is manifested:
- tachycardia;
- shortness of breath;
- pale skin.
Lack of timely treatment of anemia leads to disruption of metabolic processes with characteristic symptoms:
- dry hair;
- brittle nails;
- problem skin with long non-healing sores.
Patients can often be problems of the digestive tract: constipation or diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, pain in the gut.
diagnosing
The main method of diagnosis of folic acid deficiency anemia are the laboratory tests the patient's blood. The general analysis shows the level of leucocytes, erythrocytes, reticulocytes, thrombocytes, hemoglobin in the blood. These indicators may indicate the presence of anemia. The development of disease is set by the biochemical analysis of blood, which helps to identify problems in the liver, pancreas, stomach and intestines.
useful results can be to get a more complete picture of the disease:
- analysis of feces and urine;
- analysis on acid content;
- X-rays;
- ultrasound;
- fibroezofagogastroduodenoskopii et al.
How to treat
Recover the desired levels of folic acid in the body of the patient may be ambulatory with special therapeutic methods conducted under the supervision of a physician.
If folic acid deficiency anemia treatment is carried out in a hospital in the following cases:
- severe degree of disease;
- advanced age of the patient;
- further development of the decline in blood hemoglobin levels and vitamin B12 deficiency;
- the presence of complicated conditions.
Therapy is prescribed depending on the cause. If vitamin deficiency developed due to improperly organized power, the patient is given detailed advice on drawing up the daily diet, the inclusion of useful products. In anemia, which represented the culmination of chronic alcoholism, the patient first is drug treatment. In identifying the worms in the digestive tract, is carried antiparasitic treatment.
Only after the elimination of the root causes of the formation of anemia produced replenishment of special drugs group vitamin B9 and B12, if necessary. Last help the process digestion and absorption of acids in the intestine.
With a small deviation from the norm is assigned a daily intake of folic acid tablet at a dose of 5 mg over 1-1.5 months. In severe cases the drug dose is increased. May be carried out by intravenous administration of said vitamin. The dose of drug is calculated individually for each patient.
A healthy adult needs a daily intake of 200 mg of vitamin B9, children depending on their age - 30-150 mg. Pregnant women folic acid dosage is increased by 2 times.
For a patient with said therapeutic pathology prepared diet with an increased introduction of diet foods rich in vitamin B9: spinach, citrus, and other beans.
When properly conducted by the treatment of anemia patients recover completely. Relapse was observed.
Risk of disease
At deficiency of vitamins B9 and B12 in the human body, multiple lesions occur most on the hematopoietic system. Slows construction erythrocytes are responsible for oxygen supply of the internal organs. Over time this leads to disturbances of the cardiovascular and respiratory system, digestive tract, metabolism, and others. Unless urgent action is taken to replenish vitamins deficiency in, the human body begins to break down from the inside.
Deficiency of B vitamins in young children can adversely affect their physical and mental development. They observed frequent crying, bleeding gums, decreased immune function.
Pregnant women in the development of folic acid deficiency anemia do not have enough of the construction of the biomaterial for the full development of the fetus. The future of the child may experience severe fetal defects associated with impaired functioning of many vital systems. Often there are neural tube defects, deformations during the formation of the spinal column. In pregnant women with anemia have a higher risk of premature birth or miscarriage.
How to prevent the disease
Prevent the occurrence of anemia, folic acid can help simple observance of preventive recommendations, which should be:
- adhere fully balanced diet to include in the daily diet foods rich in vitamins of group B (fresh vegetables, milk, cereals, salmon, tuna, etc.);
- cook food gentle way with maximum preservation of useful substances (cooking, baking, steaming, quenching);
- further intended to take a specialist folic acid, if there is this need (in the elderly, during the childbearing);
- do not abuse alcohol;
- not conduct self using drugs;
- to monitor the health and promptly undergo medical examinations.
Upon detection of early signs of anemia should immediately consult a doctor. This will help avoid severe consequences of the disease.
