Alternative Therapies

Methemoglobin is characterized by its ability of not binding oxygen to it which results in functional anemia and hence fails to deliver oxygen to the tissues of the body. Methemoglobin differs from the normal hemoglobin as it has oxidised iron ferric (+3) as the carrier instead of (+2) in the normal hemoglobin.

When the content of methemoglobin increases 1% in the blood a condition known as Methemoglobinemia comes into existence. This condition is Misnomer as the level of methemoglobin increases within the RBCs only and not in the plasma. This condition is either heredity or secondary.

Causes Of Methemoglobinemia:
Causes Of Methemoglobin are:

• Organic nitrites and nitrates are proved to be the main reason for this condition to appear.
• Oxidising agents like chlorate’s
• Anesthetics which are injected either locally or tropically
• A medicine called Dapsone can result in this disease.
• Patients who have the low catalyse activity can be at the risk of generating this disease.
• In younger children the disease can develop due to various environmental reasons.
• Pyruvate kinase deficiency.
• Some environmental agents includes Chlorobenzine, aromatic amines, arsine, chlomates, nitrates or nitrites.

Symptoms Of Methemoglobinemia:
Some common symptoms of methemoglobinemia are:

• Significant anemia will be noticed
• Some abnormalities in the skeletal will be there
• Mental retardation can also be there.
• Attention must be given to the cardiac, respiratory and circulatory systems to find the root cause of the disease.
• The discoloration will be noticed in the skin and also in the mucous membranes of the body.