What is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle Cell Anemia is a disease that results in a person's red blood cells to be formed in a crescent
shape, instead of the typical round shape. The crescent shaped cells have difficulty flowing through blood and easily
form clumps in bloods. These clumps can cause serious pain and infections for the person.
Sickle Cell Anemia is a recessive trait, meaning that a person must inherit the gene from both parents. If a person
inherits the gene from only one parent, they will not have the disease, but they will be able to pass the gene on to their
children. The gene for this disorder is located on chromosomes that do not determine the sex of a child; therefore,
the disease is an autosomal recessive trait.
Sickle cells cannot live as long as normal red blood cells and die after 10-20 days. The body can't make new cells fast
enough, so the number of red blood cells drops. This decrease in red blood cells is called anemia, which is the reason
for the name Sickle Cell Anemia.
Does It Have Other Names?
Who Can Get It?
Sickle Cell Anemia is most common in families from South and Central America, Caribbean Islands, Mediterranean countries,
India, and Saudi Arabia. In the United States, it is common in African Americans and Hispanic Americans.
The disease can be very painful for the victim depending on how mild or severe their symptoms are. It is common to suddenly
have sharp pains throughout the body. Some episodes of pain can last for weeks or months. The disease can also
make it hard for a body to fight infections. Sometimes when young children's bodies can't fight the infection, the infection
could make them very sick or even kill them.
There are many possible symptoms and complications for the disease. Some of them can be fatal and severe, but some are
less serious.
How
Is It Diagnosed?
In most US states, newborns are required to be tested for Sickle Cell Anemia. Doctors
use the baby's blood sample to check for sickled blood cells. It is also possible to detect the disease before birth.
What Can Be Done To Treat It?
There are many forms of treatment to relieve the symptoms and pain of Sickle Cell Anemia, but so far, there is no effective
treatment to eliminate the disease completely. Victims can take medication to prevent episodes of pain as well as infections.
Routine checks ups with a doctor can help get early warning of some complications. Blood Transfusions can also be helpful
to replenish the number of red blood cells. Bone marrow transplants can help, but they are very risky and not recommended.
Researchers are studying a form of gene therapy that involves implanting a gene into bone marrow and cause the marrow
to produce normal blood cells.
What Should You Look For?
· Jaundice-Red
blood cells beginning to break down at a high rate
· Jaundice could give a yellow tint to skin and eyes
· Pain crises-Sharp sudden pains throughout the body
· Drowsiness
· Weak immune system
Works Cited
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060718175959.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000527.htm
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Sca/SCA_WhoIsAtRisk.html
http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/genetic/sickle_cell_anemia.html
www.defiers.com/scd.html
