27/12/2022
Sickle cell anemia
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited disorder of the red blood cells that causes them to change from their normal shape, carry less oxygen, and die sooner than ordinary red blood cells. As a result, the organs of the body are deprived of all the oxygen they need, causing pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and other symptoms that can be severe.

Sickle cell anemia, or sickle cell disease (SCD), is a genetic disease of the red blood cells (RBCs). Normally, RBCs are shaped like discs, which gives them the flexibility to travel through even the smallest blood vessels. However, with this disease, the RBCs have an abnormal crescent shape resembling a sickle. This makes them sticky and rigid and prone to getting trapped in small vessels, which blocks blood from reaching different parts of the body. This can cause pain and tissue damage.
SCD is an autosomal recessive condition. You need two copies of the gene to have the disease. If you have only one copy of the gene, you are said to have sickle cell trait.
What are the symptoms of sickle cell anemia?
Symptoms of sickle cell anemia usually show up at a young age. They may appear in babies as early as 4 months old, but generally occur around the 6-month mark..
While there are multiple types of SCD, they all have similar symptoms, which vary in severity. These include:
excessive fatigue or irritability, from anemia
fussiness, in babies
bedwetting, from associated kidney problems
jaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin
swelling and pain in hands and feet
frequent infections
pain in the chest, back, arms, or legs
What are the types of sickle cell disease?
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It normally has two alpha chains and two beta chains. The four main types of sickle cell anemia are caused by different mutations in these genes.
Hemoglobin SS disease
Hemoglobin SS disease is the most common type of sickle cell disease. It occurs when you inh
