Wife, aged 42, has been having irregular periods, frequent fatigue & breathlessness recently. Went to a gynaecologist who advised some tests. Before she could go for the tests she was down with dry cough & fever. Took her to a General Physician who asked for some immediate tests. Chest xray is OK. No malaria. TCDC, TSH & HbA1c are normal. But ESR 's 42 & haemoglobin abnormally low 6.6!Dr's given antibiotics & paracetamol (fever), vitamins, iron & folic acid tablets - said not to panic about low hb & let her recover from the fever first. I want to know whether she would need blood transfusion urgently!