SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a disease caused by inherited, abnormal, hemoglobin.
For a child to get Sickle cell anemia they have to have 2 recessive genes. One of the parents or both of them got to have the disease for their child to get the disease.
The symptoms of sickle cell disease are shortness of breath, and fatigue.
The population that is affected is the United States. It's affecting 70,000 to 80,000 Americans. Some of the other populations that can get sickle cell are Africa, India, The Mediterranean, and Saudi Arabia
2 genes from the sickle hemoglobin must be inherited from one's parents in order to have the disease. That's how it's inherited. It's not a recessive or dominant gene it's just a normal gene
There are prenatal tests for this disease. There is only one test for the disease and it is Amniocentesis.
The other names for this disease are HbS disease, Hemoglobin S disease, and SCD
There is medical assistance for this disease. You need to make regular visits to your doctor
to check your red blood cell count and to check your health. You can use the antibiotic penicillin for your children. You need to give it to them when they are about 2 months old and keep them on until they are 5 years old. You can use pain-relieving medication, and hydroxyurea.
There is no cure for sickle cell anemia. Scientists are still looking for a cure though so there might be some hope for people with this disease.
People with Sickle cell disease can have children but since the disease is in their red blood cells the offspring will get it because the red blood cells are passed down to them.
Sickle cell anemia can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment.
There is one cure and itÅ› bone marrow transplant.