Anaemia
DESCRIPTION Defined as a reduction in the absolute number of circulating red blood cells and most commonly diagnosed when the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration falls below the reference range for age and sex (Hb reference range males 13.0–17.0 g/dL; females 12.0–15.0 g/dL). The clinical features depend on the severity of anaemia, the rate at which it developed and the oxygen demands of the patient.
DESCRIPTION
Defined as a reduction in the absolute number of circulating red blood cells and most commonly diagnosed when the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration falls below the reference range for age and sex (Hb reference range males 13.0–17.0 g/dL; females 12.0–15.0 g/dL). The clinical features depend on the severity of anaemia, the rate at which it developed and the oxygen demands of the patient.
Anaemia can be classified according to the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of the red blood cell (RBC) into macrocytic anaemia (MCV >100 fL), microcytic anaemia (MCV <80 fL), or normocytic anaemia (MCV 80–100 fL).
Standard Treatment Guidelines And Essential Medicines List For South Africa, Adult Hospital level_Version 1_30 March 2026
Chapter 2: Blood and Blood Forming Organs; 2.1 Anaemia