Written by Fatima Yasser
Saturday, February 18, 2023 08:00 AM
What is Sickle cell anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is a form of inherited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells in the body. It is part of a group of blood disorders called sickle cell disease. The infection turns red blood cells from round, floppy discs into hard, sticky sickle cells. , the blood no longer contains enough red blood cells and the affected person develops anemia, a condition in which your body is unable to carry enough oxygen to the tissues.
Babies born with sickle cell anemia may not show symptoms for several months. When this happens, symptoms include extreme tiredness, restlessness, and painfully swollen hands and feet. They may also suffer from jaundice.
What are the symptoms of sickle cell anemia?
Since sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease that makes red blood cells look sickle or crescent, and there is no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia, symptoms of this disease include anemia in which red blood cells die within 10 to 20 days, although it is They are supposed to live for 120 days before they are replaced, and this leaves a deficiency of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. This leaves the body tired and overwhelmed.
There are periodic bouts of pain called pain crises. In this, pain develops in the chest, abdomen, and joints and varies in intensity, and may last from a few hours to a few days.
People can experience swelling of the hands and feet because sickle cells damage the spleen, increasing susceptibility to infection. Due to a lack of RBCs, children and infants can have slow or delayed growth and puberty.
What are the ways to treat sickle cell anemia?
There is no cure for sickle cell anemia. However, stem cell or bone marrow transplants can cure the disease, but these come with many risks.
