A blood transfusion is when a donor's blood is transferred to a patient. The blood is transferred into the patient's body through a vein. A blood transfusion can make up for the loss of blood.
The main reasons why a child may need a blood transfusion are:
• Loss of blood during surgery or from an injury or an illness.
• Too little blood is being made. Some illnesses and treatments can prevent the bone marrow from making blood (for example, chemotherapy decreases production of new blood cells).
• To prevent complications from a blood or bleeding disorder, such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or anemia caused by kidney disease, hemophilia, or von Willebrand disease.
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