Sickle Cell Disease
Deanna Nguyen
Causes
Sickle Cell Disease is genetic that both parents must have in order for their child to have this disease. If he inherits the gene change from just one parent, he has sickle cell trait, and he is just a carrier.
Symptoms
Only few show signs of SCD, and it is unusual. Whereas most babies don't show signs. All babies must have newborn screening, and if something is off then they must take diagnostic tests.
Treatment
There is no cure to SCD, but a small amount of kids been cured through stem cell transplant. It's very risky and may cause death.
Life Expectancy
In 1940's, the life expectancy was up to 14 years. Now, the life expectancy is up to 50 years or more.
3 Important Fact
Some problems are hand foot syndrome, pain episodes, and infections.
SCD affects about 1 in 500 black births and about 1 in 36,000 Hispanic births in this country.
They flow easily in the blood. A person with SCD has red blood cells that are stiff and can block blood flow. This can cause pain, infections and, sometimes, organ damage and strokes.