Sickle Cell Anemia
About Sickle Cell
Sickle cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes blood vessel blockages and anemia which happens when your body doesn't have the right amount of Red blood cells.
Red blood cells containing an abnormal form of hemoglobin may start switching between flexible round blood cells and stiff crescent shaped bloods cells but eventually turn sickle shaped permanently.
How do you know when someone has sickle cell?
You may see people start to develop a yellowish tint in the white of their eyes and their skin. There's also severe pain in their chest, stomach, arms, legs, and other parts of their body. They also start to feel tired and they start having trouble fighting infections. Sickle shaped red blood cells may clog up blood vessels and cause severe pain in the place where blood does not circulate. May also affect blood flow to the lungs.
How do you get Sickle cell?
Sickle cell happens when a person gets two abnormal genes (one from each parent) that causes their red blood cells to change into stiff crescent shaped cells rather than round flexible ones.
How is Sickle cell treated?
Sickle cell can be cured with a bone marrow transplant but it is a risky procedure. If there isn't a compatible person for the bone marrow transplant, it can be treated with blood transfusions and folic acid which helps the red blood cells get the protein they need.
Fun Facts
- Most people have the sickle cell trait and may not know it and also they may not ever find out about it.
- Sickle cell is a disease that happens mostly to Africans or people with a African ancestry.
- Sickle cell may have been a genetic mutation caused by malaria and malaria infected countries. People with sickle cell may have been able to survive the disease more easily.