Sickle Cell Disease
By: Marisol Serrano
What causes sickle cell disease?
Sickle cell disease is passed down from parents to child by genes. Sometimes the instructions in genes change. This is called agene change or a mutation. Your baby has to inherit a gene change from both parents to have sickle cell disease. If your baby just inherit one gene change from a parent then it has a trait of sickle cell disease.
characteristics of sickle cells
Acute Chest syndrome- breathing problems, chest pain and fevers.
Anemia- being pale, tiring easily, breathing problems, slower growth and later puberty than healthy children.
Hand foot syndrome- fever and pain, swelling and coldness on hands and feet.
treatments or cures
There is no cure for sickle cell disease. But a small number of children with sickle cell disease have been cured through stem cell transplant.