1. Health Occ

3. Allergy Etiology: hypersensitive response by the immune system to an outside substance which becomes an allergen. Allergens cause antibodies to be produced. EX: pollen, dog/cat fur, feathers. S/S: inflammation of the respiratory, GI and integumentary systems, may become life threatening. TX: drugs

4. Anemia – most common blood disorder Etiology: Inadequate amount of hemoglobin, RBC or both S/S: shortness of breath, pallor (pale), rapid heart rate. TX: dietary supplements, blood replacement.

5. Autoimmune Diseases Etiology: conditions in which the immune system of the body turns against itself. EX: Systemic lupus erythematosus: affects connective tissue, kidneys, lungs and heart Hashimoto’s disease: destruction of the thyroid Myasthenia gravis: affects the nerves and causes paralysis TX: immunosuppressive drugs and steroids to relieve inflammation.

7. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Etiology: dysfunction of the immune system caused by a virus. Virus will cause DNA to become infected damaging WBC. HIV is transmitted through exchange of body fluids. S/S: may not show for 6-10 years: fatigue, weakness, painful joints, diarrhea. TX: no cure, experimental medicines.

8. Elephantitis massive accumulation of lymphatic fluid in body tissues, causing abnormally large growth of tissue. Etiology: caused by obstruction of the lymph vessels by tiny worms (filariae) that are common in tropic and subtropic areas. S/S: fever, chills and ulcer formation TX: no cure, oral medications and mosquito control measures.

9. Erythroblastosis Fetalis Etiology: Antibodies from an Rh negative mother may enter the blood stream of her unborn Rh positive infant, damaging the red blood cells (RBCs). The infant responds by increasing RBC production and sending out immature RBCs that still have nuclei. S/S: baby may have brain damage TX: intrauterine blood transfusion

10. Hemophilia Etiology: rare sex linked genetic blood disease in which the blood is missing a clotting factor. S/S: prolonged or uncontrolled bleeding TX: giving plasma that contains the missing clotting factor, no cure

11. Hodgkin’s disease Etiology: cancer of the lymph system that usually appears in people between the ages of 15-30. S/S: painless enlargements of the lymph nodes, itching, weight loss, fever, difficulty swallowing. TX: chemotherapy or radiation of the lymph nodes.

12. Leukemia (blood cancer) Etiology: abnormal malignant increase in the number and longevity of WBC. WBC are immature and less effective in fighting disease S/S: bleeding gums, anemia TX: radiation, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation B: C:

13. Sickle cell anemia Etiology: genetic condition that results in malformed RBC The “sickled” cells are more fragile and cause pain as vessels are blocked and less oxygen is delivered. S/S: sometimes no symptoms, may cause death TX: no cure

14. Splenomegaly Etiology: enlargement of the spleen caused by an acute infection such as scarlet fever S/S: symptoms are similar to leukemia and anemia. TX: may require removal of spleen

15. Thrombosis Etiology: condition in which a blood clot (thrombosis) forms in the vessels. Clot slows the flow of blood to tissues Embolus: when the clot breaks away, it could lodge in a blood vessels and cause tissue death S/S: pain in the area of the clot because of lack of oxygen TX: elevation, anticoagulants, may have surgery to remove clot.