The Countless Signs of Sickle Cell Anemia

When it is a disease of the blood, specifically our red blood cells, usually this is called as sickle cell anemia. People living in the African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries are usually affected. In the United States, every year there are about 1,000 babies born with the disease, while 1 in 12 African-Americans possess the sickle cell trait.

This occurs through a genetic transfer of parents to the baby. Once the baby will inherit one sickle cell gene, he may have a deficiency in the production of normal hemoglobin, a kind of protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. This is called sickle since when there will be increased number of abnormal hemoglobin in the blood, the red blood cell will resemble into a jagged crescent that resembles a sickle. Red blood cells normally travel in and out of the blood stream with ease and flexibility. However, the sickle cell cannot do this due to its shape, so it will form a clump together and clog the blood vessels, affecting the delivery of oxygen and threatening the tissue in the body’s organs.

The following manifestations suggest sickle cell anemia:

o Hypoxia: A term which means low or no oxygen in the cell. This is caused by the low in hemoglobin carrying oxygen to the cells, thus signaling the heart to pump more making the person feel a rapid heart rate, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and other complications. Further low supply of oxygen can lead to further increase in sickle cells and also heart failure.

o Jaundice: The liver cannot be capable of disposing the damaged RBC when they begin to break down faster than the usual. A person may experience skin, mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes to take on a yellowish tint since these damaged RBCs will be clogged in the bloodstream. The liver may be permanently damaged.

o Pain crises: A very common first manifestation seen with an infant is hand-foot syndrome, causing pain and swelling in those organs. The pain may be located in the shoulders, back, muscles, arms, legs, hips, and joints. The frequency is not consistent. The pain can last for hours up to weeks. There will also be acute chest syndrome resulting to severe chest and abdominal pain as well as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

o Increased risk of infection: Because ether will be built up of red blood cells in the spleen, it can damage it which leads to lowering a person’s resistance to viral infections, respiratory infections such as pneumonia, and osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis affects the bones.

o Stunted growth and vision problems: There may be children who will be underweight, have short trunks, and a delay in reaching puberty. The blood vessels found in the eyes may also have the sickle cell build up leading to blindness.

Diagnosis and treatment: In more than 40 US states today, hemoglobin electrophoresis will be performed on newborns to detect sickle hemoglobin as well as the sickle cell trait. At present there is no cure for sickle cell anemia. What is being done are bed rest and painkillers for pain crises and fluids to prevent dehydration. To avoid infection, penicillin is given to children. More so, blood transfusions can be done to increase the number of normal red blood cells to prevent more serious complications. Some adults may be alleviated with the pain and acute chest syndrome they have through the anticancer drug hydroxyurea. Indeed, with moderate exercise, a healthy diet, as well as regular medical check-ups can actually increase life expectancy and quality of life.

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