WHO criteria for diagnosis of anemia is a set of guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help medical professionals diagnose anemia. Anemia is a condition where a person has a lower than normal amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin. The WHO criteria for diagnosis of anemia can help medical professionals determine the type, severity, and treatment of anemia.
General Criteria
The WHO criteria for diagnosis of anemia include general criteria that must be met for anemia to be diagnosed. These criteria include:
Hemoglobin concentrations: Hemoglobin concentrations must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Red Blood Cell Count: The red blood cell count must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Hematocrit: The hematocrit must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Additional Criteria
In addition to the general criteria, the WHO criteria for diagnosis of anemia also includes additional criteria that must be met for anemia to be diagnosed. These criteria include:
Ferritin concentrations: Ferritin concentrations must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Vitamin B12 concentrations: Vitamin B12 concentrations must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Folate concentrations: Folate concentrations must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): The MCV must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH): The MCH must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): The MCHC must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Reticulocyte count: The reticulocyte count must be lower than the 5th percentile for age, sex, and population, as determined by the WHO reference standard.
Conclusion
The WHO criteria for diagnosis of anemia is a comprehensive set of guidelines that helps medical professionals diagnose anemia. These guidelines include general criteria and additional criteria that must be met for anemia to be diagnosed. It is important for medical professionals to be familiar with the WHO criteria for diagnosis of anemia in order to accurately diagnose and treat anemia.