Aplastic anemia

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors Tests and diagnosis

Treatments and drugs Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies Coping and support Alternative medicine

Definition

A variety of blood cells course through your bloodstream — red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. All are important to your health. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight infection, and platelets help the blood to clot.

In aplastic anemia, your body stops producing enough new blood cells. This means you're fatigued and at higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding.

A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can develop at any age. Treatment for aplastic anemia may include medications, blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant. Once considered nearly always fatal, aplastic anemia has a much better prognosis today, thanks to advances in treatment.

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Symptoms