Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia where red blood cells are larger than normal. It results from a deficiency in vitamin B12 or folate, which are needed to properly produce red blood cells. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin. The large red blood cells have difficulty exiting the bone marrow and delivering oxygen throughout the tissues.

1. MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA
 Anemia is a blood disorder in which the number of red blood
cells (RBCs) is lower than usual. RBCs transport oxygen
through the body. When your body doesn’t have enough
RBCs, your tissues and organs don’t get enough oxygen.
 There are many types of anemia with different causes and
characteristics.
 Megaloblastic anemia is characterized by RBCs that are
larger than normal.
 When RBCs aren’t produced properly, it results in
megaloblastic anemia. Because the blood cells are too large,
they may not be able to exit the bone marrow to enter the
bloodstream and deliver oxygen.

2. DEFINATION
 Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia, a
blood disorder in which the number of red blood
cells is lower than normal.
 It is also known as vitamin B-12 or folate
deficiency anemia bcz there is deficiency of this
both.

3. Etiology
a. Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin
deficiency.
b. Folic acid deficiency or Folate
deficiency
c. a and b deficiency.

5. Vitamin B-12 Deficiency Folate Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is a nutrient
found in some foods like
meat, fish, eggs, and milk.
Some people can’t absorb
enough vitamin B-12 from
their food, leading to
megaloblastic anemia.
Megaloblastic anemia
caused by vitamin B-12
deficiency is referred to
as pernicious anemia.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency is
most often caused by the
lack of a protein in the
stomach called “intrinsic
factor.” Without intrinsic
factor, vitamin B-12 can’t be
absorbed.
Folate is found in foods
like beef liver, spinach, and
Brussels sprouts.
Folate is often mixed up
with folic acid — technically,
folic acid is the artificial form
of folate, found in
supplements.
Folate deficiency can also
be caused by chronic
alcohol abuse, since alcohol
interferes with the body’s
ability to absorb folic acid.
Pregnant women are
more likely to have folate
deficiency, because of the
high amounts of folate
needed by the developing
fetus.

6. Sign and symptoms
 The most common symptom of megaloblastic
anemia is fatigue. Symptoms can vary from
person to person. Common symptoms include:
 shortness of breath
 muscle weakness
 abnormal paleness of the skin
 swollen tongue
 loss of appetite/weight loss
 diarrhea
 nausea
 fast heartbeat
 smooth or tender tongue

8. PATHOPHYSILOGY
Blood count decreases
Microcytic anemia
Bone marrow
B-12 defiency Vit B-12 and folate Folate
defiency
Dietary malabsorption Megaloblasitic Anemia Dietary
malabsorption

9. COMPLICATIONS
Individuals with megaloblastic anemia may also
develop gastrointestinal abnormalities including
diarrhea, nausea, and loss of appetite. Some affected
individuals may develop a sore, reddened tongue.
These abnormalities may result in unintended weight