Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

Many people with mild megaloblastic
anaemia have no symptoms. Others
may experience tiredness, headaches, a
sore mouth and tongue, and mild jaun-
dice. If B 12 deficiency continues for a
long time, additional symptoms due to
nerve damage, including numbness and
tingling in the feet, may develop.
Megaloblastic anaemia is diagnosed
by blood testsand a bone marrow biopsy.
Megaloblastic anaemia due to poor diet
can be remedied with a short course of
vitamin B 12 injections or folic acid tab-
lets and the introduction of a normal
diet. A lifelong course of vitamin B 12
injections or folic acid tablets is
required if the underlying cause of mal-
absorption is untreatable.
anaemia, perniciousSee anaemia,meg-
aloblastic.
anaerobicCapable of living, function-
ing, and growing without oxygen. Many
bacteria are anaerobic. Some human
body cells are capable of limited anaer-
obic activity. When muscular exertion is
so strenuous that oxygen is used faster
than the blood circulation can supply it,
such as during sprinting, muscle cells
temporarily work anaerobically. When
this happens, lactic acid is produced as

waste (instead of the carbon dioxide

from aerobicactivity), sometimes causing

muscle fatigue andpain.

anaesthesiaAbsence of all sensation;

insensibility. The term most commonly

refers to anaesthesia that is induced

artificially for medical purposes. Two

types of anaesthesia are used: local

(see anaesthesia,local) and general (see

anaesthesia,general).

Damage to nerve tissues by injury or

disease can produce anaesthesia in a

localized area.

anaesthesia, dentalLoss of sensation

induced in a patient to prevent pain

during dental treatment.

For minor procedures, a local anaes-

thetic (see anaesthesia,local) is injected

either into the gum at the site being

treated or intothe nerve a short dis-

tance away (called a peripheralnerve

block). In addition, topical anaesthetics

are often used on the gums. For more

complicated procedures, such as perio-

dontal (gum) surgery and multiple

tooth extractions, general anaesthesia

is carried out (see anaesthesia,general).

anaesthesia, generalLoss of sensation

and consciousness induced to prevent

the perception of pain throughout the

ANAEMIA, PERNICIOUS ANAESTHESIA, GENERAL

A

Monitor displays heart-

rate, blood pressure, and

oxygen levels in blood

Anaesthetist

records vital signs

and drugs used

Endotracheal tube

delivers gases to patient

ANAESTHESIA, GENERAL

ECG leads on the
chest connect to monitor

Flow, concentration, and

mixture of gases are regulated

by anaesthetic machine