It can also arise as a reaction to certain drugs and in sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and some other inherited disorders, which result in abnormal red cells. Hemolytic anemia can also arise from a blood transfusion with blood of the wrong type or incompatibility of Rh factor between a newborn child and its mother. Treatment is aimed at finding the cause, and blood transfusions may be given. Complete failure to produce red blood cells, the disorder called aplastic anemia, may occur suddenly for no apparent reason. Or it may be caused by sensitivity to a drug that results in destruction of bone marrow cells.
Treatment is with corticosteroid drugs, blood transfusions, or sometimes bone marrow transplants.
A well-balanced diet provides sufficient iron for a woman with normal menstrual periods. Such a woman needs about 18 mg of iron per day. If her periods are particularly heavy, or if she is pregnant, her iron intake may not keep pace with her loss, and a physician may prescribe additional iron. A pregnant woman needs 30 mg of iron daily during the last six months.