My Red, Red Blood Trivia Quiz

Answer: Iron

Anemia is most commonly caused due to iron deficiency and this type of anemia (called iron-deficiency anemia) is the most prevalent across the world. The underlying causes of iron deficiency include chronic blood loss, pregnancy, inadequate diet which leads to inadequate iron stores in the body, inability of the body to absorb iron from diet, etc. Most common manifestations of iron-deficiency anemia include fatigue and reduced capacity for exercise.

Another sign that doctors look for in an anemic patient is a pale appearance in the eye underneath the lower eyelid which is called pallor. Long-term iron deficiency can lead to fissures or cracks in the corners of the mouth which is called cheilosis. Laboratory tests are usually done to confirm the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and it can range from oral iron therapy to blood transfusion.

Answer: Sickle cell syndrome

Sickle cell syndrome is a genetic condition in which the shape of the red blood cells (RBCs) is altered to resemble a sickle. This condition is also called sickle cell anemia as the hemoglobin's capacity to carry oxygen is affected. Some common features of this condition include fever, increased heartbeat rate, pain and anxiety.

Infections are common in those with this condition. Some respiratory symptoms, like cough and chest pain, are also seen in sickle cell syndromes. Bone marrow transplants can be done and it is effective in children with this condition.

Answer: Leukemia

Leukemia is the term used for a group of disorders which are classified as cancers of the blood cells. Some types of leukemia are chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic neutrophilic leukemia. Leukemia can arise from any of the blood cells - from red blood cells and white blood cells.

In leukemia, there is excessive and uncontrolled production of these cells. The diagnosis is usually done by laboratory tests like complete blood counts in which the number of different types of cells in a person's blood is evaluated.

Some types of leukemia are rapidly fatal and some can be treated. The treatment options for leukemia include chemotherapy (using drugs directed at cancer cells) and stem cell transplants.

Answer: Leukopenia

Leukopenia is the term used for the state in which there is an abnormally low number of white blood cells in the blood. This condition can be seen in diseases like advanced human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection or toxicities of drugs like chloramphenicol and anti-cancer drugs. Leukopenia can be diagnosed by taking a complete blood count from a sample of a patient's blood. Treatment would involve identifying the underlying cause of leukopenia.

Answer: Polycythemia

Polycythemia means an abnormally increased number of red blood cells circulating in the blood. This state can be due to various underlying conditions like dehydration due to prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, stress-induced, drug toxicities, etc. The diagnosis of polycythemia can be done by taking a red blood cell count from a sample of a patient's blood.

Answer: Platelets

Thrombocytopenia is the marked decrease of platelets in the blood. Platelets help in blood coagulation and thereby reduce bleeding. The decrease in the number of circulating platelets can cause excessive bleeding. This situation can be life threatening and is seen in diseases like dengue.

Other causes of thrombocytopenia include drugs, like alcohol and heparin, or diseases like aplastic anemia and lupus.

Answer: Hemophilia

Christmas disease is also known as hemophilia B. The other type of hemophilia is called hemophilia A. These are inherited disorders of coagulation which cause excessive bleeding. This excessive bleeding is due to the absence or abnormality in one of the many factors in the human body that help in the clotting and coagulation of blood.

In Christmas disease, specifically, there is a factor called coagulation factor IX that is abnormal. Some of the manifestations of hemophilia are easy bruising after mild trauma and excessive bleeding after operations. People with this condition can sometimes develop spontaneous bleeding after doing things that put parts of their body under even under minor mechanical stress such as playing sports.

Answer: True

Fatal allergic reactions in some people can occur due to a mismatch in antibodies in their blood and the blood that is given to them. In order to avoid such a situation, blood that is used for transfusion is now thoroughly screened before it is given to a patient.

Other possible complications of blood transfusion are infections, hemolytic reactions where the wrong blood type is given to the patient that causes a dangerous reaction in the recipient, etc.

Answer: Hemorrhage

Hemorrhage occurs when there is damage to a blood vessel and blood oozes into the surrounding tissue. This is especially common after trauma to parts of the body. It is dangerous if a large blood vessel, like the aorta, is damaged and also if the hemorrhage occurs inside the head or cranium. Most massive hemorrhages require surgery to be corrected.

In these surgeries, the blood that is outside the vessel is removed and the blood vessel is repaired.

Answer: Embolism

Embolism occurs commonly when a dislodged clot from inside the blood vessel is carried by blood to a distant site in the body. This clot that is carried by the blood is called an embolus. An embolus can be other solids like hair or fat, liquids like amniotic fluid and it can also be a gas like nitrogen. An embolism is dangerous and can lead to complications like infarction, in which the blood supply to a certain part of the body is blocked off by the embolus, which further leads to death of the tissue with no blood supply.

When this happens in the heart, it is called myocardial infarction.