Diseases

A disease or medical condition is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and signs.It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune diseases.

The blood transfusion is being done with great ease in many health centers. Increased number of blood transfusions has led to an increase in the number of diseases that have been spread because of these transfusions.

The various diseases that can be transmitted by blood transfusions are

1. HIV (Human Immuno deficiency virus)

This virus causes AIDS. In 1982, for the first time, a child in the United States of America got infected with this virus due to blood transfusion. From that time onwards, all donors were tested for the presence of the virus before their blood was taken for transfusion. In spite of this, there are instances where the blood donors who were HIV positive have donated blood and the blood was transfused and the recipients have got AIDS. This is because sometimes the person donating blood could have been asymptomatic and the virus may not have been identified in the blood.

2. HCV (Hepatitis C virus):

This is a RNA virus that causes chronic liver disease. This is usually transmitted by needle stick injuries and also blood transfusions. Presence of anti HCV antibodies in the blood of the donor helps the health care worker to identify the presence of the virus.

3. HBV (Hepatitis B Virus):

This is a DNA virus and is spread usually by parental transmission. This can also cause liver probl;ems if transmitted by blood transfusions.

4. CMV (Cyto Megalo Virus) :

This is very important because in immuno compromised individuals or those who have problems in the immune system, this virus can cause various problems. This is another virus that can cause disease and can be spread by blood transfusions.

5.Other Viruses:

There are other viruses that can also be present in the blood of the donor that can cause diseases in the recipient if the blood is transfused. These are Human T cell Lymphotrophic Virus, Parovirus, Ebstein Barr virus, West Nile virus and Herpes virus.

6. Syphilis:

This is a sexually transmitted disease. This is caused by treponema pallidum. This disease can also be transmitted by blood transfusions from an affected individual donating blood and it being transfused into a normal individual. This is the reason for tests detecting this disease being mandatory before blood is donated.

7. Malaria:

Transmission transmitted malaria is very less. If the malarial parasite is detected in the blood of the donor, then it is best not transfused into the recipient. Donors having history of fever and chills which are usual signs of malaria are asked to defer from blood donation.