Table of contents:
- What to see a doctor if you have anemia?
- What tests are done to diagnose anemia?
- 1. Complete blood count test
- 2. Blood smears and differentials
- 3. Count the reticulocytes
- 4. Other supporting investigations for anemia
Indonesia is one of the countries with a high rate of anemia sufferers. Unfortunately, some people sometimes feel confused about what doctor to see. In fact, seeing the right doctor and undergoing tests to establish a diagnosis will help you relieve symptoms of anemia and get more appropriate treatment.
What to see a doctor if you have anemia?
Many people do not understand where to go for treatment when they have anemia. Some people will choose directly to a specialist to solve the problem.
For early symptoms of anemia that tend to be mild, going to a general practitioner is enough to consult about your complaints. From there, the doctor will check your medical history, physical examination, and blood tests to make a diagnosis of anemia.
If your complaints do not improve after being given anemia treatment, your general practitioner may refer you to a hematologist specialist doctor. A hematologist explores the branch of science related to blood components and their problems.
The goal is to find another, more specific diagnosis of anemia or another condition that underlies your symptoms or is worsening.
What tests are done to diagnose anemia?
Anemia is divided into several types with various causes. This condition can also be a symptom of another, more severe disease. That is why, doctors must be very careful and careful when making a diagnosis of all.
You can play an active role by explaining in detail about your symptoms, family medical history, diet, and the drugs you are taking. This collection of information can help your doctor determine what type of anemia you have.
There are several examinations, both main and supporting, to determine a diagnosis of anemia, namely:
1. Complete blood count test
The first investigation that is done to diagnose anemia is a complete blood count test. Complete blood count test or complete blood count (CBC) done to determine the amount, size, volume, and amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells. To diagnose anemia, your doctor may check the levels of red blood cells in your blood (hematocrit) and hemoglobin.
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, normal hematocrit values in adults vary between 40-52% for men and 35-47% for women. Meanwhile, the normal value of hemoglobin in adults is 14-18 grams / dL for men and 12-16 grams / dL for women.
The diagnosis of anemia is usually marked by the following results of a complete blood count:
- Low hemoglobin
- Low hematocrit
- The red blood cell index, including mean volume of living cells, mean hemoglobin of living cells, and mean hemoglobin concentration of living cells. This data is useful for determining the size of red blood cells and the number and concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells in a person's blood at that time.
2. Blood smears and differentials
If the results of a complete blood count shows anemia, the doctor will perform further tests with a blood smear or differential, which counts red blood cells in more detail. These test results can provide additional information for the diagnosis of anemia, such as the shape of the red blood cells and the presence of abnormal cells, which can help diagnose and differentiate the type of anemia.
3. Count the reticulocytes
This test is useful for finding out the number of red blood cells that are still young, aka immature, in your blood. It also helps determine the specific diagnosis of anemia in terms of which type you have.
4. Other supporting investigations for anemia
If the doctor already knows the cause of anemia, you may be asked to do other tests as a support to determine the cause.
For example, for aplastic anemia. You may be asked to do blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy. The reason is, aplastic anemia may occur due to the immune system mistakenly recognizing bone marrow as a threat.
All aplastic sufferers have a lower number of blood cells in their marrow.
After knowing the type of anemia you have and its causes, you can discuss the right anemia treatment with your doctor. Anemia treatment aims to relieve symptoms, prevent anemia from recurring, and reduce the risk of complications that can arise from untreated anemia.
