Symptoms Of Aplastic Anemia

Skin Rash

Skin rash can occur in individuals who have any variation of anemia, but aplastic anemia is one of the most prevalent variations that cause an anemia rash. An anemia rash is a form of bruising that takes the appearance of a skin rash. The rash looks like patches of purple or red spots about the size of a pinpoint. The patches may be raised to the touch or flat and non-palpable. The most common location for an anemia rash to occur on a patient's body is the legs, arms, and neck. The anemia rash does not cause the patient to experience any symptoms like itchiness or pain. This type of rash is referred to as a petechial rash or petechiae. The red or purple spots are the result of the leakage of blood from tiny blood vessels in the skin. This leakage occurs in individuals with blood that cannot form clots properly. Because there is a general shortage of platelets in the blood of aplastic anemia patients, an anemia rash is a common occurrence. A petechial anemia rash can easily be distinguished from an actual epidermal irritation of the skin by pressing down on it. Petechial rashes do not blanch or turn white when pressure is placed on them.

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Headaches

A common symptom seen in individuals with aplastic anemia is frequent headaches. Several mechanisms can cause a patient to develop a headache, including reduced levels of oxygen in the brain. Headaches are common in several types of anemia, but for different reasons. Aplastic anemia is caused by bone marrow that does not produce new blood cells as the old blood cells are dying at the end of their life cycle. The result is a shortage of red blood cells responsible for the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the different tissues around the body. A lower number of red blood cells causes lower levels of oxygen concentration in the individual's blood. The brain is a complex organ that requires adequate amounts of oxygen to work correctly. Just like other cells around the body, brain cells need oxygen to metabolize glucose into ATP or usable cellular energy. Without this cellular energy, the brain evokes responses to help increase oxygen levels in the brain. One of these responses is by the constant movement of muscles. The muscles in the neck and shoulders are responsible for supporting the head. Reduced oxygen concentrations can deprive these muscles of oxygen, resulting in neck stiffness that contributes to the development of a headache.