What is a low hemoglobin count and what are risks?
‘A hemoglobin count of 2’ is very low for any person and is severe anemia. This anemia must have developed slowly (over several weeks or months) for her body to withstand it. There are several possible causes of this anemia. It could be from gradual and occult (hidden) blood loss such as scanty but prolonged bleeding from the intestines, or intestinal parasites (e.g hookworm) sucking blood over a long period. It could also result from continuous damage of red blood cells in the body like in sickle cell disease and other hemolytic anemias. Failure of her body (bone marrow) to produce enough red blood cells may also cause this degree of anemia e.g in severe nutritional deficiencies, leukemia, some drugs and toxins. I’m sure the doctors will run some tests to find out the cause of her anemia. She will require blood transfusion to correct this severe anemia. Blood transfusion has its own risks but with current knowledge and technology these risks are drastically reduced. She may in additio
