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What is Sickle Cell Anemia? You may have heard of this disease before, but are not quite sure what it is. Sickle Cell Anemia is a hereditary disease. It must be inherited from both parents to have the active disease. If only one parent passes on the sickle cell trait, then the child will have the sickle cell trait but not the disease itself. This child has inherited only one of the faulty genes and will have little or no symptoms whatsoever.
In Sickle Cell Anemia, the hemoglobin cels, which are the blood cells that carry oxyegen to all parts of the body, are shaped like sickles instead of round like normal. These sickles cells are also very fragile. These sickle cells stick or clump together and also break. Sickle cells clog up small arteries and the result is the main symptom, which is terrible, excruciating pain. The sickled cells do not carry oxyegen well like they are supposed to. The pain is the main symptom of SCA. There is tremendous pain during the exacerbations or episodes. The pain is usually located in the chest, abdomen and the joints. These painful episodes come and go. They are sporadic and unpredictable. The exacerbation episodes of Sickle Cell Anemia are believed to be triggered or brought on by certain things, such as hot or cold weather, stress, or infections.
Sickle Cell Anemia has no cure. The treatment for this hereditary disease is only palliative. Palliative means that the symptoms are treated, not the disease. Since the main symptom is pain, that is what is treated. Painful episodes are usually treated in the hospital setting with strong pain relievers, lots of fluids, which help to wash out the sickle cells, (an i.v. is started), oxyegen, and antibiotics to treat infections if present. The patient is kept still and quiet, the room may be darkened to allow them to rest.
Sickle cell anemia is usually discovered during childhood. Interestingly enough this disease is almost exclusively seen in black families. Appoximately 1 to 3% of all blacks carry the sickle cell trait, so the disease is somewhat uncommon. Appoximately 1 in 500 blacks have sickle cell disease. It is a good idea to know your family's medical history.
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