Sickle Cell Anemia

By: Mireya Reyes

Sickle cell Anemia is known as being a fatal hereditary form of anemia, it is recognized

by its abnormal red blood cells having a crescent shape due to the effect of hemoglobin S found in the cells.

Definition of Sickle Cell Anemia

In the United States approximately 1 in every 375 African Americans are born

with Sickle Cell Disease each year.

Sickle Cell Anemia is most common among people whose ancestors came

from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere (South America, the

Caribbean, and Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean

countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

Sickle Cell Anemia occurs more often among people from parts of the world

where Malaria is common.

Interesting Fact: People who have the sickle cell trait, (gene) are less likely to have severe forms of Malaria.

Incidence of Sickle Cell Anemia :

Most symptoms present within birth until 4 months of age, Shortness of breath Dizziness, Headaches, coldness in the hands and

feet Pale skin Jaundice ( a yellowish color of the skin, or white of

the eyes. Some people may have mild symptoms while others have more severe cases of these symptoms.

Signs & Symptoms:

Sickle Cell Disease Severe Symptoms:

Sickle Cell Crisis: sudden pain throughout the body, this pain affects the bones, lungs, abdomen, and joints. (This happens when sickle shaped cells block blood flow to the limbs and organs causing organ and tissue damage.Hand- Foot Syndrome: blocks the small blood vessels in the hands and feet in children, leads to pain, swelling, and fever. Swelling in back of the hands and feet that spread to fingers and toes. Splenic Crisis: spleen (found in the abdomen) fails to filter abnormal red blood cells and fight infection.Infections Acute Chest SyndromePulmonary hypertension: shortness of breath and fatigue

Signs & Symptoms:

Strokes

Eye problems

Gallstones – too much bilirubin (which is a compound broken down by hemoglobin protein) that leads to stones in the gallbladder.

Sores found in the legs, usually begin as small, raised, crusted sores on the lower third of the leg.

Multiple organ failure

Signs & Symptoms:

Diagnosis :

Can be detected with a simple blood test to detect sickle cell hemoglobin

In the United States, all States mandate testing for sickle cell anemia as part of their newborn screening programs

Prevention : Genetic counseling is advised for

two parents who plan to have a child and are carrier of the sickle cell trait

1 in 12 African Americans are carriers of this trait

It can be diagnosed within 10 weeks of pregnancy

Sickle cell cannot really be prevented, however you can prevent the change in red cell shape by:

Getting enough fluids, Getting enough oxygen, and Quickly treating infections

TREATMENT: Sickle anemia itself doesnot have a cure, howeverIt’s symptoms can be relieved and complications can betreated. Goals: • relieve pain• Prevent infections • Organ damage • Prevent at treat strokes

In some cases: Blood & Marrow stem cell transplants it can be a cure for a small number of people.

People with Sickle Cell Anemia have reduced life expectancy.

Some people with the disease can remain without symptoms for years, while others don’t survive beyond infancy or early childhood.

People with Sickle Cell Anemia can survive beyond their 50’s with treatment

OUTLOOK:

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0f3c061585f70110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle-cell_disease

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