Hematology is the medical specialty that focuses on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, including disorders of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and coagulation.

What conditions are treated by a hematologist?

A hematologist manages conditions such as anemia, iron deficiency, leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, bleeding and clotting disorders, inherited blood diseases, and persistent abnormalities detected on blood tests or blood smears.

What is the difference between hematology and oncology?

Hematology covers benign and malignant blood disorders, while oncology primarily focuses on solid tumors; the two overlap in the management of blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

What is a peripheral blood smear and why is it important?

A peripheral blood smear is a microscopic examination of blood cells that helps assess red cell morphology, white cell differentials, and platelet numbers, and it supports diagnosis in many hematological disorders.

What blood tests are commonly used in hematology?

Common tests include the complete blood count (CBC), blood film examination, coagulation studies, iron studies, vitamin B12 and folate levels, and specialist investigations such as bone marrow examination when indicated.

What is the role of the bone marrow in hematology?

Bone marrow is the primary site of blood cell production, where hematopoietic stem cells mature into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, making it central to normal hematopoiesis and many blood disorders.

When should a patient be referred to a hematologist?

Referral is appropriate for unexplained anemia, persistent abnormal blood counts, recurrent bleeding or thrombosis, suspected blood cancers, or ongoing abnormalities on blood tests or peripheral blood smears.

What is the difference between hematology and hematopathology?

Hematology is the clinical specialty providing patient care for blood disorders, while hematopathology focuses on laboratory diagnosis using blood films, bone marrow biopsies, and specialized testing.

Why is hematology important in general medicine?

Hematology is important because blood abnormalities may reflect systemic disease, infection, inflammation, malignancy, nutritional deficiency, or organ dysfunction, and blood tests are fundamental to medical diagnosis.

Is hematology a medical or laboratory specialty?

Hematology is both clinical and laboratory-based, combining patient management with interpretation of blood tests, blood smears, and bone marrow findings.

What does the term haematology mean?

Haematology is the British spelling of hematology and refers to the same specialty concerned with blood, blood-forming organs, and blood disorders.

How does hematology help in diagnosing disease early?

Hematology supports early diagnosis through routine blood tests and microscopic examination, which can identify conditions such as anemia, infection, leukemia, and coagulation abnormalities before symptoms become advanced.

Infections Archives - Ask Hematologist

Coronavirus and Blood

August 11, 2020 Leave a comment

Coronavirus and Blood: Does coronavirus have direct effects on Blood? The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most significant global public health crises in a century. Since its emergence in December 2019, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions worldwide and caused widespread morbidity and mortality. Beyond its respiratory manifestations, COVID-19 also affects the hematologic system, leading to various […]

Category: Infections

Leishmaniasis

March 9, 2016 5 comments

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female sand flies. The condition occurs across several endemic regions worldwide and can present in cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral forms. More than 20 Leishmania species are capable of causing human disease; although they appear morphologically similar, they are […]

Category: Infections

Lymphatic Filariasis

March 8, 2016 Leave a comment

Three patients with advanced lower-limb lymphedema caused by chronic filariasis.

Lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and caused by microscopic thread-like filarial worms that reside in the human lymphatic system. This system is essential for maintaining fluid homeostasis and immune defence, and chronic infection can lead to significant lymphatic dysfunction. Transmission occurs when infected mosquitoes introduce larval parasites (microfilariae) into the bloodstream, […]

Category: Infections

Trypanosomiasis

March 7, 2016 Leave a comment

Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness or Chagas disease, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma. It affects both humans and animals and is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected tsetse flies (Glossina species) in Africa or by triatomine (kissing) bugs in the Americas. The African form is caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (West […]

Category: Infections

Malaria

March 6, 2016 Leave a comment

Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic infection caused by protozoa of the Plasmodium genus and transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Once introduced into the bloodstream, the parasite completes a sexual cycle within the mosquito and recurrent asexual cycles in humans, leading to the development of characteristic clinical symptoms. Gametocytes formed in human hosts perpetuate […]

Category: Infections

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

March 4, 2016 Leave a comment

Kaposi Sarcoma on the leg showing multiple violaceous plaques and nodules in an HIV-positive patient

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a major global health concern and remains one of the most significant infectious diseases affecting individuals, communities, and healthcare systems worldwide. HIV is a retrovirus that targets and progressively destroys CD4-positive T lymphocytes, leading to immune dysfunction and increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections and malignancies. Following initial exposure, HIV infection often presents with a transient […]

Category: Infections

Infectious Mononucleosis

March 3, 2016 2 comments

Infectious Mononucleosis (Glandular Fever)—commonly referred to as mono—is an acute viral illness caused predominantly by the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpesvirus family. First characterised in the 1920s, the infection is transmitted primarily through saliva, earning it the nickname “the kissing disease”, although sharing drinking glasses, utensils, or toothbrushes can also facilitate spread. The incubation period ranges from […]

Category: Infections