Polycythemia | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of polycythemia?
Infants and children with polycythemia often have no visible symptoms. When they do appear, the most common symptoms include:
- deep reddish-purple coloring
- poor feeding
- tiredness or fatigue
- shortness of breath or breathing difficulty
- low blood sugar
- headache
- dizziness
- itchiness, especially following a warm bath or shower
- numbness, tingling, burning or weakness in your hands, feet, arms or legs
What causes polycythemia?
Polycythemia may be caused by an increase in a baby’s red cell production due to:
- chronically lowered oxygen levels
- some chromosomal abnormalities
Or it can be the result of extra blood cells entering the baby's circulation due to:
- delay in clamping the umbilical cord after delivery
- twin-twin transfusion
Polycythemia is rare. Some babies may be at increased risk, including those born:
- at high altitudes (greater demand for blood to carry oxygen)
- after 42 weeks gestation
- small for gestational age or with intrauterine growth restriction (poor growth of the baby while in the womb)
- identical twins, who share a placenta and develop twin-twin transfusion symdrome
- to diabetic mothers
- with chromosomal abnormalities, including trisomies 13, 18 and 21 (Down syndrome)
Polycythemia | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is polycythemia diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for polycythemia may include:
- high red blood cell counts or hemoglobin levels
- genetic tests to determine what is causing increased red blood cell production
After all tests are completed, doctors will be able to outline the best treatment options.
How is childhood polycythemia treated?
Treatments for polycythemia can include:
- phlebotomy (withdrawal of blood through the veins)
- medication such as hydroxyurea to reduce blood cells
- low-dose aspirin
With secondary polycythemia, treatment usually focuses on the underlying cause.