Anaemia Quiz

See Section. Option B is correct. Anaemia is a haemoglobin concentration below the expected range for the person. Because haemoglobin carries most oxygen in blood, this generally reduces oxygen-carrying capacity. The appropriate interpretation depends on factors such as age, sex and pregnancy rather than one universal threshold. Anaemia can arise through blood loss, reduced red-cell production or shortened red-cell survival. It names the finding, not its underlying cause, so the next step is to understand the mechanism. A defect in oxygen affinity alone does not define anaemia if haemoglobin concentration remains normal.

Splenic destruction (C) is only one way to shorten red-cell survival, while bleeding and impaired production can also cause anaemia. E mistakes a laboratory finding for a complete diagnosis that needs no further explanation. Iron deficiency (A) is common but is only one cause among nutritional, inflammatory, renal, inherited and haemolytic causes. Reduced white-cell production (D) concerns leukopenia, a low white-cell count, rather than the defining red-cell haemoglobin finding.