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What Causes Low Hemoglobin Levels?

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Posted on Sat, 13 Sep 2014
Question: 92yr. old mother taken to hospital. told she had pneumonia. blood test were done. what would cause her hemoglobin level to drop from 10.9 , 23 days earlier to 7.7.
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Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Any/all infections can contribute to this

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would likw you to know that I an here to help.

Infections in general, can suppress the bone marrow which is responsible for production of red blood cells. Due to this, an infection like pneumonia could easily drop the hemoglobin levels. Please note that pneumonia in itself cannot directly contribute to a drop in hemoglobin levels and this is mostly just due to the suppressed bone marrow.

Also, if she was in the hospital during this period during which multiple blood samples were taken and the blood was diluted due to intravenous fluids, a mild drop in hemoglobin levels can be observed.

So please do not worry about the drop in hemoglobin levels, this can be easily tackled and should be easy to address once the infection is dealt with.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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What Causes Low Hemoglobin Levels?

Brief Answer: Any/all infections can contribute to this Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would likw you to know that I an here to help. Infections in general, can suppress the bone marrow which is responsible for production of red blood cells. Due to this, an infection like pneumonia could easily drop the hemoglobin levels. Please note that pneumonia in itself cannot directly contribute to a drop in hemoglobin levels and this is mostly just due to the suppressed bone marrow. Also, if she was in the hospital during this period during which multiple blood samples were taken and the blood was diluted due to intravenous fluids, a mild drop in hemoglobin levels can be observed. So please do not worry about the drop in hemoglobin levels, this can be easily tackled and should be easy to address once the infection is dealt with. I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you. Best wishes.