Introduction

Sickle Cell Anemia is a rare genetic disorder. People with the disorder have abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S or sickle hemoglobin in their blood cells. Hemo globin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. There are fewer than 200,000 cases per year. It cant be cured but can be treated. Can last for years or even a lifetime. It requires a medical diagnoses.

Symptoms

If someone has sickle cell anemia, they were born with it. Usually, symptoms dont appear until 5-6 months.

Symptoms may include: painful swelling of the hands and feet, fatigue or fussiness, yellowish skin, or white of the eyes.

What causes It

Sickle cell anemia is inherited. If the parents both are carriers, there is a chance of the child getting the disorder. The parents pass on the hemoglobin s which causes sickle cell anemia to happen.

Treatment

Treatments for sickle cell anemia may include medication, blood transfussion, or rarely bone-marrow transplant.

Medications- there are antibiotics you can take. Their are some pain relievers that can help. Hydroxyurea will also help.

Blood transfussion- red blood cell transfusion, red blood cells are removed from a supply of donated blood. These donated cells are then given to a person with sickle cell anemia.

Bone-marrow transplant- Bone marrow transplant offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. But finding a donor is difficult and the procedure has serious risks associated with it, including death.

Prognosis

The life expectancy for someone with sickle cell anemia is reduced. Treatments have been getting better and better for it causing their life expectancy to get higher. Some victims die in infancy while others survive for decades.