DEFINITION
What Is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell, also known as Sickle Cell Anemia or sickle cell anemia, is an inherited anemia. Sickle cell is a condition in which there are no healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen throughout the body.
Normally, red blood cells are round and can move easily through blood vessels, which helps deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. In sickle cell anemia, these cells become sickle and stiff and sticky. These cell deformities can cause difficulty moving through blood vessels, and can slow or stop the flow of blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. This situation triggers tissue and organ damage due to not getting enough blood.
How Common Is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell family genes are mainly from Africa, India, the Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Patients with sickle cell have skin darkening to the maximum extent.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Sickle Cell Anemia?
Common symptoms of sickle cell are:
- Chronic anemia
- Tachycardia, tired
- Swelling in the hands and feet due to blocked blood vessels
- Jaundice, delayed growth
- Severe pain in the chest, abdominal area, joints and bones, which can last from hours to weeks
Sickle cell disease is hereditary but symptoms only appear after 4 months of age.
Complications of sickle cell also include kidney and eye disease, stroke, and infections such as osteomyelitis, pneumonia. In severe cases, the bone marrow will stop producing red blood cells.
There may be some signs and symptoms not listed above. If you are concerned about a symptom, please consult your doctor.
When Should I See A Doctor?
Although sickle cell anemia is usually diagnosed in infancy, if you or your child has any of the following problems, call your doctor immediately:
- Intense pain without cause, such as pain in the abdomen, chest, bones, or joints
- Swelling in the hands or feet
- Swelling in the abdomen, especially painful to the touch
- Fever: people with sickle cell anemia have a higher risk of getting an infection and fever is also an early sign of infection
- pale skin
- Yellow or white skin in the eyes
- Numbness or weakness in one part of the face, arm, or leg
- Confusion
- Suddenly lost sight
REASONS
What Causes Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that is hemoglobin (beta-globin protein) – which mixes with much of the iron that makes blood red. Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When you have sickle cell anemia, an abnormality in the hemoglobin makes the red blood cells stiff, sticky, and deformed. Sickle cell genes are passed down from generation to generation.
For cases where a parent has sickle cell and gives birth to a child, the odds are:
- 25% chance that a newborn baby will not develop this disease
- 50% of children have hidden genetic factors, but the disease does not appear
- 25% chance that children will be born with sickle cells
RISK FACTORS
What Increases My Risk For Sickle Cell Anemia?
The only factor that increases the risk of sickle cell is having sickle cell lineage. Sickle cell parents indicate that they have normal hemoglobin and one sickle cell gene, so the blood has both normal and abnormal hemoglobin. Meanwhile, even if this parent is born normal, he still has a 25% chance of inheriting the sickle cell line.
TREATMENT
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
What Are My Treatment Options For Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell is not completely treatable. This treatment is offered by doctors to control symptoms and relieve pain.
If you or your child is experiencing excessive pain and medication is ineffective, the doctor will inject a strong narcotic pain reliever (a nerve blocker for pain) directly into a muscle or joint. Hydroxyurea inhibits the production of erythrocytes which will help prevent frequent pain.
You or your child will need more water and nutrients and regular blood transfusions. Meanwhile, blood with sickle cells will be replaced with healthy blood.
Children will often need the use of penicillin to prevent infection.
Your doctor can give you or your child a marrow transplant but this method is very complex and requires many conditions to be successful.
What Are The Most Common Tests For Sickle Cell Anemia?
Your doctor will diagnose sickle cell based on your and your family's medical records or blood tests to look for sickle cell and hemoglobin mutations.
Children will be diagnosed early if you immediately have a blood test from birth.
HOME REMEDIES
What Are Some Lifestyle Changes Or Home Remedies That Can Be Used To Treat Sickle Cell Anemia?
The following lifestyle changes and home remedies can help you cope with this disease:
- Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration
- Go on a diet with lots of leafy green vegetables that are rich in folate. You should take folate every day
- Light exercise to increase endurance
- Get vaccinated as recommended by your doctor
- Don't travel on an airplane without a pressurized room
- Do not abuse painkillers. Although analgesics are very much needed if you or your child has sickle cell but you should only take them as prescribed and always consult your doctor before taking the initiative to take medication on your own.
- Do not consume alcohol, beer and narcotics to relieve pain
If you have any questions, consult a doctor for the best solution for your problem.